Vladislav Maslennikov, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department for European Affairs, said that the European Union’s (EU) internal market is competitive and highly regulated, so Armenia should not expect favorable conditions for its products.

Axar.az reports, citing Russian media, that Maslennikov made the remarks in an interview with RIA Novosti.

“The harsh reality is that the EU’s internal market is highly competitive and heavily regulated. Armenian products certainly will not be welcomed there with open arms,” the diplomat said.

He also noted that candidate countries seeking to join the EU may wait for years for a decision on their membership. In some cases, the waiting period can stretch for decades, Maslennikov emphasized.

It should be noted that yesterday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said they were bringing Armenia closer to the European Union, building roads and bridges as part of a €200 million connectivity package, and that 80% of Armenia’s exports to the EU market were already exempt from tariffs.