The political scientist assessed the consequences of Pashinyan's course towards Armenia's accession to the EU

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statement on the start of the application process for the republic's accession to the European Union (EU) is primarily related to political rather than economic aspects. This opinion was expressed to Izvestia on August 24 by the director of the EISI Laboratory of New Technologies, political scientist Alexander Asafov.

According to the expert, the process of admitting new members to the EU depends on the political situation and can take a long time. At the same time, Yerevan's current rapprochement with Brussels, in his assessment, is not related to full-fledged integration into the European economy, but to a political agenda.

Asafov noted that the discussion of Armenia's possible accession to the EU creates certain expectations for the republic, but at this stage it is more about promises and building a new foreign policy course than about joining the union soon.

According to the political scientist, such processes can be used to increase pressure on Russia and change existing political and economic ties. At the same time, the decision on further movement in the European direction will depend on the position of Brussels and the EU countries interested in such a development.

The expert noted that Armenia's possible reorientation to the European market could create economic difficulties for the republic. According to him, the experience of new EU members shows that after joining, countries face the need to restructure their economies, increase competition and change conditions for individual industries.

"There is no large-scale trade in standard goods for them, in the case of Armenia, this is also an understandable group of goods, and here, of course, Europe does not need fruits, flowers, or agricultural products. All this is in abundance. And Europe itself is an exporter, not an importer of these products," Asafov said.

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According to the political scientist, Armenia may receive separate support tools in its rapprochement with the EU, but at the same time it will face the need to adapt its economy to new conditions. In particular, the changes may affect agriculture and traditional export destinations.

Asafov also noted that the weakening of ties with Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union could become a serious challenge for the republic. According to him, the Russian direction remains important for the Armenian economy, and the replacement of existing trade relations will require significant changes.

"The first thing the new members face is that they receive some kind of subsidies, but they receive the destruction of their agriculture. They get a number of obvious problems, taking into account the interests of large corporations, they are forced to rebuild their economy to accommodate those remnants of the European market that they may get," the political scientist noted.

According to Asafov, Pashinyan's decision to move towards the EU is related to the current political situation. At the same time, the accession process remains lengthy, and the prospect of European integration itself, according to the expert, can create serious economic risks for Armenia.

"It's still a promise mode. And there is a rather difficult and long road ahead. But in the long run, this road, of course, leads to an economic impasse, and not at all to prosperity," Asafov concluded.

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On the same day, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that the republic would soon begin the application process for EU membership. He noted that Armenia should receive an answer from the EU on key issues of rapprochement.

On August 6, Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, speaking with Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan, said that Russia considers Armenia's policy of joining the EU to be disastrous.