On Thursday, the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia received documents to launch the signature collection process on the issue of Armenia’s accession to the European Union, according to a press release from the Commission.
In June, the Armenian parliament held hearings on the feasibility of holding a referendum on Armenia’s bid to join the European Union. The initiative for the hearings was spearheaded by a platform of democratic forces uniting pro-Western politicians and public figures.
Today, September 5, 51 citizens submitted a proposal to the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia to form an initiative group to discuss the draft law “On the Initiation of the Process of the Republic of Armenia’s Accession to the European Union” as a civic initiative. Artak Zeinalyan has been appointed as the authorized representative of the group, according to the statement.
It is noted that the Commission has received the draft resolution on the formation of the initiative group and the appointment of the authorized representative, copies of documents verifying the identity of the group members, as well as the draft law in both electronic and paper formats.
In accordance with the legal norms established by the Law on Referendum, the Central Electoral Commission has ten working days to either register the initiative group or refuse registration if the law’s requirements are not met.
To submit the draft law for discussion to the National Assembly, 50,000 citizens’ signatures are required.