By Ani Avetisyan in Yerevan Armenia has formally started the process of joining the European Union (EU). A bill calling for the country to launch a bid to enter the 27-member bloc was approved by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government on January 9.

The Armenian government has approved a bill that envisages submitting an application for membership in the European Union, Reuters reported on Thursday,

The Armenian government on Thursday introduced a bill to parliament that calls for the country to begin the process of joining the European Union. According to the Armenpress news agency, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that the government is committed to the law,

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government officially announced that it will back a bid for Armenia’s membership in the European Union, prompting Moscow to threaten Armenia’s status in the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.

The Armenian government on Jan. 9 supported a draft law on initiating the country's accession process with the European Union, Armenia News reported. The government "expressed a positive stance" on the bill,

On Thursday, January 9, the Armenian government approved the draft law titled "On the Start of the Process of Armenia's Accession to the European Union," the news agency NEWS.am reports. "The draft law on the start of Armenia's EU membership process was submitted for discussion in the National Assembly as a civic initiative,