Armenia could realistically submit a formal application to join the European Union in 2027 or 2028, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Euronews EU Enlargement Summit, stressing that his government intends to allow the Armenian people to decide the country's future direction.

"Next year can be realistic. 2028 can be realistic," Pashinyan said. "We have started the process that will lead us to the final decision to submit an application for formal membership of the European Union," The Caspian Post reports, citing Euronews.

In August, Pashinyan told the Armenian parliament that his government intended to apply for EU membership "in the near future". Such a move would mark a shift for the South Caucasus country away from Russia's orbit and closer to Brussels.

However, Yerevan has not yet submitted a formal membership application. Armenia is currently engaged in a visa liberalisation dialogue with the European Commission, with the aim of completing the process by 2029.

Pashinyan described EU membership as a strategic choice aimed at protecting Armenia's democracy following the 2018 revolution, which brought an end to the rule of pro-Russian politicians.

"For our people, democracy isn't a matter of circumstances. It is a strategic choice," he said, adding that the European Union had been one of Armenia's main partners in implementing its democratic reform agenda.