On September 8, Agnes Khamoyan, deputy member of the opposition faction “Armenia” and Member of Parliament, declared that Armenia will not join the European Union within the next two decades. She asserted that any claims about Armenia’s imminent EU accession constitute deliberate deception of citizens by the current leadership.
Khamoyan also dismissed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s July 2 announcement that Armenian citizens would gain visa-free travel to all EU countries by 2029, calling it a lie. “The statement that in 2029 the process of visa liberalization will enter a full-fledged phase and the citizens of Armenia will be able to travel to Europe without visas is also a lie,” she stated.
Khamoyan noted that significant internal political events are expected in Armenia, which could directly affect relations with Russia. According to her, important developments regarding cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) should emerge soon, while the current government seeks to maintain uncertainty.
She added that the opposition forces will not accept a joint agenda of Armenian and Azerbaijani leaderships, which she argued infringes on Armenia’s national interests.
The European Commission had previously indicated it was premature to set an exact timeline for visa-free travel. Earlier this week, EC representative Paula Pinho stated that Yerevan has made progress in meeting EU requirements but further assessments are necessary. Additionally, EC President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new evaluation mission in fall 2026.
