Political analyst calls the significance of the draft law on Armenia's European integration null and void

The draft law on Armenia's accession process to the European Union (EU) is of zero value and threatens the country's national interests. Ruslan Andreyev, political consultant and expert of Polylog Group, pointed this out in a conversation with Izvestia on February 12.

The Armenian parliament adopted the corresponding draft in the first reading earlier in the day. The European Commission (EC) told Izvestia the previous day that the process of Yerevan's rapprochement with the EU is gaining momentum, but it has not yet submitted an official application to join the association.

"[Armenian Prime Minister Nikol] Pashinyan can even write in big letters at the entrance to the Armenian parliament: 'Armenia wants to join the EU'. He can follow the experience of other post-Soviet countries and even write this "wish" into the constitution. Only the practical significance, like this draft law, will remain zero," commented Andreyev.

He also emphasized that Armenia's energy and food security is based on good relations with Russia: 40% of Armenian exports go to Russia. Withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) upon joining the European Union is inevitable: Yerevan also has a deep level of economic integration with this union, the interlocutor drew the attention of the newspaper's interlocutor.

"Pashinyan and his deputies, seeking to join the European Union, which is not favorable to the Armenian people, to the detriment of their own national interests, knowing that they will never be accepted into this union? What is this: stupidity or treason? The question is rhetorical," the expert summarized.

Armenia's prospects of joining the EU are extremely weak. And here's why

On January 9, the Armenian government approved a draft law on the beginning of the process of the state's accession to the European Union. At that time Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said that the relations between the country and the association have been developing "intensively and dynamically" in recent years.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, in turn, told Izvestia that Russia considers Armenia's simultaneous membership in the EU and the EAEU impossible. According to him, Yerevan will have to make a choice in time.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on February 12 that Armenia has a sovereign right to European integration.