The National Assembly of Armenia, at its session on March 25, 2025, finally approved the bill expressing the republic's intention to begin the process of joining the European Union. The document, adopted in the second and final reading, became an important political signal about Yerevan's desire to strengthen ties with Europe and integrate into the European community. The initiative, developed by the ruling Civil Contract faction, received the support of the majority of deputies, which reflects the country's leadership's course towards rapprochement with the West in the context of a complex geopolitical situation.

The bill does not provide for an immediate start of membership negotiations, but sets out Armenia's strategic goal of moving towards European standards and values. During the discussion in parliament, representatives of the ruling party emphasized that the document is a logical continuation of the policy enshrined in the government's program for 2021-2026. According to them, joining the EU is seen as a way to strengthen democratic institutions, increase the level of security and economic development of the country. Opposition forces, however, expressed concern, pointing to the possible risks of deteriorating relations with Russia, Armenia's traditional ally, and the difficulty of meeting EU requirements.

The adoption of the bill was another step in the process of Armenia's rapprochement with the EU, which has intensified in recent years. In 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic repeatedly stated that the initiative to join the European Union was in line with the dynamics of cooperation with European partners. One of the key steps in this direction was the deployment of the EU civilian observation mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in 2023, which strengthened trust between Yerevan and Brussels. In addition, in March 2025, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan announced the start of negotiations on visa liberalization with the EU, which is seen as an important element of integration.

The European Union, in turn, welcomed Armenia’s intentions.