Armenia’s electoral commission approves campaign for EU referendum

On September 11, Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC) approved the launch of a signature collection campaign to hold a referendum on the country’s possible accession to the European Union. The CEC approved a request from 51 citizens who formed an initiative group to propose a draft law titled “On the initiation of the process of Armenia’s accession to the European Union”through a civil initiative.

Artak Zeynalyan, a representative of the pro-European “Republic” party, was appointed as the authorised representative of the initiative group. CEC Chairman Vahagn Hovakimyan confirmed that the group had submitted all the necessary documents required by Armenia’s Law on Referendums, paving the way for the campaign to move forward.

The next step in the process is the collection of signatures. The group has 60 days, from September 16 to November 14, 2024, to gather enough support to bring the draft law to a referendum. The CEC also approved the format of identification cards for members of the civil initiative and their authorised representatives, ensuring they can formally represent the campaign.

The referendum initiative has been supported by three political parties: the European Party of Armenia, the “Republic” party, and the “For the Republic” party. These parties are advocating for closer ties with the European Union, hoping the referendum will gain public support for starting the accession process.

In parallel, Armenia and the European Union recently began discussions on visa liberalisation. On September 9, both parties announced a dialogue aimed at lifting visa requirements for Armenian citizens on short-term visits to the EU. However, this would require significant reforms by Armenia in key areas, including securing travel documents, improving border control, managing migration and asylum, fighting corruption, and safeguarding fundamental rights related to freedom of movement.

The proposed referendum has sparked varied reactions among Armenian officials. Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan has expressed support for holding the vote, believing a referendum is feasible in the near future and predicting a positive result. On the other hand, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who had previously voiced a desire for Armenia to strengthen its relationship with the EU, has spoken out against the referendum. Pashinyan emphasised that there is no clear indication yet whether the EU is ready to accept Armenia into its ranks, raising doubts about the timing of the vote.

As Armenia continues to navigate its foreign policy and relations with global powers, the outcome of this initiative could have significant implications for its future alignment.