The issue of Armenia’s EU membership reappeared on the political agenda this week, driven by several pro-Western groups loyal to PM Nikol Pashinyan. These groups urged the government to hold a referendum within the next three months to gauge public support for an EU membership bid.

Following this development, the Armenian parliament, controlled by the ruling party, promptly organized hearings on the proposal for an EU membership referendum on June 21. During the six-hour session chaired by Arman Yeghoyan, the chairman of the Armenian Parliament committee on European integration, commented cautiously on the proposed referendum. He clarified that such a vote could only take place after Yerevan decides to apply for EU candidate status and receives positive feedback from Brussels.

Opposition politician Eduard Sharmazanov criticized the Armenian leadership’s push for a referendum on joining the EU, alleging it entails new concessions to Azerbaijan.

“Under the pretext of Armenia’s Europeanisation, they will try to meet Aliyev’s demands,” Sharmazanov, a senior member of the Republican Party of Armenia, wrote on social media, referring to the parliamentary hearings on applying for EU membership.

Sharmazanov claimed that “Under the guise of a referendum on border delimitation and visa liberalization with the EU, [Armenian PM] Nikol Pashinyan and his associates will try to fulfill Azerbaijan's demands by changing the Constitution of Armenia,” urging people not to “swallow the bait” for European integration.

He argued, “Even if 100 percent of Armenians vote for the country’s accession to the EU, no one there is waiting for Armenia. In fact, the idea of a referendum is a plan for Armenia’s Azerbaijanization.”