On June 21, at the proposal of four extra-parliamentary political powers, the RA NA Standing Committee on European Integration convened parliamentary hearings on the topic of the Proposal to Hold a Referendum on Armenia’s Application for Membership in the European Union.
According to the Committee Chair Arman Yeghoyan, the aim is to listen to meaningful proposals to achieve the stated political objectives, to get an answer to the question “how?”, not “what?”, regarding the ways, deadlines, toolkits, and sequence of the steps.
“European integration is an action consisting of many lines, in which there are many separate steps,” Arman Yeghoyan said. According to him, it is good for small states to be a member of the European Union: The experience has shown that after the membership, such countries have recorded a rapid growth.
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Addressing the criticism that the ruling Faction is slowing down the process of the RA’s European integration, Arman Yeghoyan mentioned: “These hearings were held by the Civil Contract Faction and our Committee. We were not forced to do it, we wanted to do it.” He stressed that after April 5, 2024, and especially in the recent period, contacts have been intensified not only with the European, but also with the US partners.
The deputy of the Supreme Council Azat Arshakyan emphasized the fact that the Committee met the public demand and convened parliamentary hearings. He added that Armenia is a desirable ally for Europe.
The Chairman of the Republican Party Aram Sargsyan noted that they have taken a commitment to support the current authorities in the process regarding Europe. Aram Sargsyan, presenting the viewpoint of the four political powers, proposed to organize a referendum on submitting an application for membership to the European Union within 100 days.
According to the Chairman of Free Citizen NGO Hovsep Khurshudyan, the idea of joining the European Union has a broad consensus in the Republic of Armenia. He read the appeal adopted at the forum of the Platform of Democratic Forces held on June 20, according to which the authorities of the RA are proposed to organize a referendum on membership in the European Union within the next four months. Hovsep Khurshudyan expressed his conviction that the public will say ‘Yes’ to the proposed referendum.
According to the Chairman of For the Republic Party Arman Babajanyan, decisions will be made that will define the eternal path of our state and the path of eternal existence. In his opinion, the referendum will help deepen the relations not only with the European Union, but also with the USA. A huge restraint toolkit and security capital will be created for Armenia.
The Director of the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs Styopa Safaryan, referring to the importance and the responsibility of the issue, said: “The responsibility is collective. I don’t want to get into contradictions with either the Civil Contract Faction or others, because today Armenia needs a consensus on a very key decision. The referendum on the proposed topic is precisely the issue of that consensus. Indeed, it is time to understand that no one will escape from that responsibility this time, whether it is the Government or the opposition.”
The representatives of the platform of democratic forces and the political society referred to the processes of the European integration, alternative ways, security system of Armenia, strengthening of democracy in their speeches. For Armenia, the European integration has been defined as a path without an alternative. There was a point of view that the implementation of the referendum within the scheduled period will ensure international resonance, the rise of the Republic of Armenia in the democratic world, as well as the strengthening of Western consolidation around Armenia. The referendum was considered as a historical, cultural, geopolitical electoral process that perpetuates independent statehood and the survival of sovereignty, and strengthens national security and resilience.
The member of the RA NA Standing Committee on European Integration Sona Ghazaryan underlined that the European integration is not financial support at all, but steps aimed at economic and energy security. “ Integration into the European Union also involves the institutional reforms carried out in the field of human rights , which will make the path of Armenia’s European integration irreversible,” the MP said.
The deputy of the RA NA Civil Contract Faction Maria Karapetyan highlighted the support of the representatives of the political parties participating in the parliamentary hearings to the sovereignty and independence of Armenia.
The Deputy Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on European Integration Meri Galstyan welcomed the public discourse on the content, to develop the agenda. “I reaffirm our commitment and aspirations to real democracy, and this is the most important issue, around which the broad public consensus and common sense of our public will direct the content and the direction of political developments,” Meri Galstyan said.
“The RA Government and the ruling majority are the vanguards of the European integration agenda in the Republic of Armenia”, the Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on European Integration Arman Yeghoyan said, summarizing the parliamentary hearings, presenting the next steps of European integration.
Noting that the ruling majority of the RA is debating the issue of submitting an application for membership to the European Union, he said that as a result of debates in a number of other formats, when the Government and the ruling majority come to a conclusion, it will be announced. Arman Yeghoyan emphasized that the European integration process of the RA continues. Touching upon the speeches and the observations made during the parliamentary hearings, the Committee Chair thanked everyone for their participation and the interesting debate.
National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia