Armenia has acknowledged that it cannot simultaneously remain a member of both the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and that any eventual decision on the issue will be made by its citizens, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan said.

Grigoryan addressed questions about the possibility of Armenia leaving the EAEU and whether such a move would be decided through a referendum, given the incompatibility of membership in the two blocs, The Caspian Post reports, citing TASS.

“We fully understand that Armenia cannot simultaneously be a member of the EAEU and the EU, and it is obvious that in the future we will need to make an appropriate decision. Moreover, the decision on this issue will, of course, be made by the citizens of Armenia. At present, there is no such necessity,” he said.

Grigoryan stressed that Armenia continues to function as a full member of the EAEU for now, actively engaging in cooperation and participating in all decision-making processes within the bloc.

The issue comes amid Armenia’s gradual movement toward closer ties with the European Union. On March 26, 2025, the Armenian parliament passed a law initiating the process of the country’s accession to the EU. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan previously clarified that this step does not automatically mean EU membership, and that the final decision would require a referendum.

Russian officials have repeatedly stated that EU accession is incompatible with EAEU membership. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk previously said that joining the EU would prevent continued participation in the EAEU.

On May 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin also commented on the issue, saying Yerevan should clarify its position on EU or EAEU membership as soon as possible, suggesting that an “intelligent divorce” could follow such a decision.