European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen started a two-day go to to the South Caucasus with talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Tuesday, underscoring the European Union’s rising strategic curiosity within the area because it seeks to strengthen power safety, transport hyperlinks and regional stability.
Baku is the primary cease on Ms von der Leyen’s regional tour earlier than her journey to Armenia, which the European Fee describes as a part of sustained high-level engagement with companions throughout the South Caucasus.
At a joint press convention after the assembly, the 2 leaders targeted on the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace course of, transport connectivity, power cooperation and the broader strategic partnership between the EU and Azerbaijan.
Ms. von der Leyen described Azerbaijan as an vital associate of the 27-member bloc and emphasised its position in supporting Europe’s power safety amid geopolitical uncertainties.
“In recent times, Azerbaijan has confirmed to be a dependable power associate for the European Union. Now we have not forgotten that Azerbaijan strengthened itself at a time when Russia weaponized the power of fuel for Europe. The Southern Fuel Hall will definitely strengthen Europe’s power safety and that is an incredible success story,” he stated in Baku on Wednesday.
The EU Govt additionally welcomed progress within the peace course of between Armenia and Azerbaijan, saying the settlement may open the door to broader regional cooperation.
“I want to congratulate you on signing the historic peace settlement with Armenia. You have got proven private management in selling peace and cooperation all through the area. Collectively we are able to actually flip peace on paper into peace in actuality,” von der Leyen stated.
The President of the European Fee introduced that Brussels will suggest launching an EU-Azerbaijan Connectivity Partnership masking transport, power and digital infrastructure. He stated the EU’s World Gateway initiative may present as much as €200 million in subsidies for initiatives throughout the South Caucasus and mobilize as much as €2 billion in private and non-private funding.
Ms von der Leyen additionally introduced a €20 million program to help peacebuilding efforts resembling demining, well being care, rural improvement and small and medium-sized enterprise help.
An unprecedented “lively stage” in relationships
Aliyev pointed to a sequence of high-level visits between Brussels and Baku over the previous yr and stated relations with the European Fee have entered an unprecedented part of engagement.
“The relations between the European Fee and Azerbaijan are at a really lively stage. That is an unprecedented dynamism in our relationships and displays the mutual view of all sides to strengthen our cooperation and strengthen our partnership,” he stated.
The President of Azerbaijan additionally highlighted the nation’s rising position within the European power combine, noting that exports to EU member states have elevated considerably for the reason that conclusion of the Power Partnership in 2022.
“At the moment, half of our fuel exports go to European Union member states,” Aliyev stated, including that the Southern Fuel Hall has change into “the principle artery for the transportation of pure fuel from Azerbaijan to Europe.”
Past power, the 2 leaders acknowledged that transport connectivity is a central pillar of future cooperation.
Mr. von der Leyen defined that the South Caucasus is a strategic crossroads connecting Europe, the Caspian area and Central Asia, whereas Mr. Aliyev pointed to Azerbaijan’s position in creating east-west and north-south transport corridors and increasing cargo flows by means of the nation.
The go to comes as Brussels continues efforts to diversify power provides and develop different commerce routes within the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Since signing a strategic power partnership with Azerbaijan in 2022, cooperation has expanded past pure fuel to incorporate renewable power, digital infrastructure and the event of the Trans-Caspian worldwide delivery route, generally generally known as the Intermediate Hall.
Ms von der Leyen’s go to to Baku coincides with a broad week of EU diplomacy within the area.
On the identical day, EU International Coverage Chief Kaca Kalas, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, and Residence Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and International Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara, specializing in regional safety, migration, commerce and connectivity.
The parallel efforts replicate the EU’s broader technique to strengthen ties with the South Caucasus and Turkiye, as Brussels goals to deepen cooperation on power, transport, financial resilience and regional stability.
Ms von der Leyen will proceed her regional tour in Armenia, the place she is predicted to give attention to peace, connectivity and the EU’s continued engagement throughout the South Caucasus.
