Armenia’s National Assembly today, by a vote of 64 to 7, adopted a draft law in its second reading on the start of the membership process in the European Union.

All votes in favor came from the ruling Civil Contract party, while seven opposition MPs opposed it.

The draft, which reached the National Assembly through the Euroreferendum initiative, was adopted by the Armenian parliament in its first reading on February 12. Prior to the second reading, the issue was discussed and received a positive conclusion in the National Assembly’s European Integration Committee.

The draft law is more symbolic in nature rather than stipulating any real steps that Armenia will take to seek EU membership.

“In conclusion, I would like to emphasize once again that the adoption of the draft law is not an application for EU membership in itself, however, it conveys the aspiration of the citizens of Armenia who wish to take the deepening of partnership with the EU to a new level and is in line with the balanced and balancing foreign policy,” Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan said.

He noted that the adoption of the law is in line with Armenia’s balanced and balancing foreign policy.