Economist: EU will not open its protected market with non-tariff restrictions to Armenia
YEREVAN, July 22. /ARKA/. The European Union will not open its protected market with non-tariff restrictions to Armenia, this is already obvious, said economist and political scientist Hrant Mikaelyan.
"As for the economic component, the European market is seriously protected. Those post-Soviet countries that signed the Association Agreement received some small benefit in trade relations with the EU. However, what is needed for the economic development of Armenia in such a format is impossible to obtain," Mikaelyan noted during a public discussion on the Public Television of Armenia.
Speaking about EU membership, the expert noted that in a 20-year perspective, it is not serious to talk about Armenia's membership, because over the past 20 years, the European Union has accepted 3 countries (Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia), and one large state has left the Union - Great Britain.
"There are currently 10 countries in line that are geographically closer to the European "core". Today, the EU is in a more vulnerable position than in 2005 or 2006. We see that there is no prospect of deep EU expansion, unless Montenegro joins in the near future. Empty promises mislead countries and create a false impression. In this regard, we must be very serious and careful about the hope with which we build this policy," Mikaelyan said.
He stated that the EU will not accept Armenia because this will cause a negative reaction from the 10 countries that are in line. Serious investments must be made in the Armenian economy to ensure balancing and security, which contains very serious risks.
"If there is a dialogue with the EU on security issues, this does not mean that the EU will "come" and resolve Armenia's security issues. And if Armenia becomes a member of the EU, then this is a necessary issue,” Mikaelyan noted during a public discussion on the Public Television of Armenia.
According to him, the EU is not a donor of security, but a consumer of security on a global scale.
“Expecting the EU to protect Armenia temporarily, in the short term, within some clear framework, perhaps in the long term, this does not solve any issue,” Mikaelyan said.
On March 26, 2025, the National Assembly of Armenia approved the draft law on the beginning of the country's accession to the European Union. On April 4, the law was signed by Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan. As stated by the head of the NA Committee on European Integration Arman Yeghoyan, this bill simply expresses the will of the Armenian people, at the moment, the submission of an application for membership of the republic in the EU is not envisaged. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia could become a member of the European Union in 20 years.
