Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2026
2. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her Department's position on the accession of Armenia to the European Union following the European Parliament's resolution noting that Armenia could apply for membership if it meets the Copenhagen criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35584/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra3. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her Department's position on a matter regarding enlargement of the European Union (details provided); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35585/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
Ireland strongly supports EU enlargement which will be a key priority of our upcoming EU Presidency.
Ireland and Armenia have strong bilateral relations and we work together in the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Taoiseach visited Yerevan earlier this month to attend the eighth European Political Community Summit.
Ireland welcomes the strengthening relationship between the EU and Armenia.
On 5 May, the EU and Armenia held their first ever summit. The Joint Declaration which was issued following that meeting acknowledged the European aspirations of the Armenian people, rooted in the adoption of the Law on Launching Armenia’s EU accession process of March 2025, expressing Armenia’s intention to move towards the EU. The Joint Declaration also states that any decision on EU membership is a matter for the people of Armenia to decide freely and democratically.
Ireland welcomes the growing EU-Armenia cooperation which is outlined in the Joint Declaration, which focusses on connectivity and support for energy, transport and digital infrastructure. The EU-Armenia Connectivity Partnership which was signed on 5 May in Yerevan underlines Armenia’s role as a vital partner in the ‘middle corridor’ connectivity project through the South Caucasus. These agreements serve as a building block to further strengthen EU-Armenia relations.
The EU-Armenia partnership is based on the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the Strategic Agenda for the EU-Armenia Partnership adopted in December 2025. The €270 million, four-year EU Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia, announced in 2024, supports Armenia's socio-economic resilience through three pillars: investing in connectivity and business, bringing Armenia closer to the EU, and fostering a resilient and inclusive Armenian society.
The Treaty on the European Union states that any European country may apply for EU membership if it respects the democratic values of the EU and is committed to promoting them. Ireland believes that all European countries deserve the opportunity to join the EU, once they meet all necessary criteria. All candidate countries are currently required to abide by the accession criteria known as the "Copenhagen criteria" and are required to align with EU standards across all negotiating chapters. These are points which the European Parliament resolution of March 2024 addresses.
