Lithuanian FM: EU open to all nations that wish to join it through  partnership and membership

ArmInfo.  The European Union is open to all nations that wish to join it through partnership and membership. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys stated this on May 19 in Yerevan at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan.

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister noted that the EU is not an empire,  but an organization founded on certain values. "If some countries  want to be like us, with our values, we are ready to provide  support," the diplomat said, when asked about Armenia's prospects for  EU accession.

He added that the Armenian civil society initiative to adopt a law on  EU accession was a signal to move closer. He proposed discussing this  and what could be done in this direction. "Enlargement policy remains  on our agenda; it will end when the values that underpin the EU cease  to be valid," he said, calling for the adoption of all EU proposals  aimed at creating a more sustainable future for Armenia.

On January 9, 2025, the Armenian government approved a draft law on  the initiation of the EU accession process, proposed by the "Eurakve"  civic initiative. The draft was submitted to the Armenian parliament  for approval. On March 26, the parliament adopted it in its final  reading and sent it to the president for signature. The document was  signed on April 4 of that year. Moscow stated that Russia had  conveyed to Armenia that simultaneous membership in the Eurasian  Economic Union and the European Union was impossible.