Zakharova: Joining the EU would automatically lead to the return of tariffs with the EAEU

During a press briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova addressed Armenia’s desire to join the EAEU and the EU. She noted that there are specific numbers and an economy involved. According to her, the EAEU is about economic benefits and provides significant economic advantages to Armenia, which has also been discussed within Armenia itself.

Zakharova noted that these advantages come from exports, primarily to Russia, and that the revenues from exports are hard-earned. Regarding EU membership, she stated that all the benefits of joining the EAEU would be nullified in that case.

Zakharova noted that joining the EU would automatically lead to the reintroduction of tariffs with the EAEU, and this would be a decision of a sovereign country, which has the right to make such a choice. It is essential to understand the consequences of such a move. “In such a scenario, the production chain established over decades would collapse,” Zakharova noted, adding that, according to some estimates, Armenia’s exports could decrease by nearly 80%.