CHOLPON-ATA /Kyrgyzstan/, August 7. /TASS/. Armenia understands that simultaneous membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the European Union (EU) is impossible, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the extended meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan.

The fundamental principles of the EAEU are not being fully implemented, he said. At the same time, according to the Armenian premier, strengthening cooperation with EAEU countries is one of Armenia’s priorities.

TASS has compiled the key statements made by Pashinyan.

Focus on cooperation with EAEU

Strengthening cooperation with EAEU countries is "one of the foreign policy and foreign economic priorities" of Armenia: "This approach will also be reflected in the program of the new government that I have been entrusted to lead."

Choice between EAEU and EU

Armenia understands that simultaneous membership in the EAEU and the EU is impossible: "We understand that simultaneous membership in the EAEU and the EU is impossible."

Armenia "has taken note" of the statement made by the leaders of four EAEU member states on May 29, 2026.

"The strategic goal" of adopting the law on the commencement of Armenia’s accession to the EU is "to create an alternative": "However, the mere fact that this law has been adopted does not mean that Armenia currently has the opportunity to become an EU member."

Armenia has no legal, economic, or political obligations to the European Union that conflict with the status of the republic’s relations within the Eurasian Economic: "I must note that the current relations between Armenia and the European Union entail no legal, economic, or political obligations that conflict with our status within the EAEU."

Criticism of EAEU

The EAEU’s strategic goals in a number of areas have "not been fully achieved."

The EAEU principles underpinning the Union are not being fully implemented in practice: "One of the fundamental principles of the EAEU is ensuring the free movement of capital, goods, services, and labor. Unfortunately, in practice, these principles are not being fully realized. Certain restrictions and administrative measures continue to hinder the full functioning of the common market, reducing the predictability of business conditions and the effectiveness of integration processes."

Armenia consistently ensures favorable, equal, and non-discriminatory conditions for the operations of economic entities from all EAEU member states: "We consider it fundamentally important that any measures capable of affecting the access of member states’ goods and services to the common market be adopted exclusively in accordance with EAEU law, based on agreed procedures, and within the framework of constructive cooperation between competent authorities."