Azerbaijan, EU Discuss Bilateral Relations, Connectivity and Regional Developments

Baku, The Gulf Observer: Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yalchin Rafiyev held talks with a visiting delegation of the EU Council Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST), focusing on the current state and future prospects of Azerbaijan–EU relations.

The meeting addressed key areas of bilateral cooperation, including partnership priorities, negotiations on a new bilateral agreement, energy and transport connectivity, climate cooperation and regional developments.

Rafiyev noted that high-level contacts between Azerbaijan and the European Union have intensified in recent years, accompanied by expanded cooperation in energy, trade and connectivity.

Highlighting the growing strategic importance of the Middle Corridor, the Deputy Foreign Minister briefed the EU delegation on Azerbaijan’s efforts to strengthen its transport and logistics infrastructure. He highlighted major projects and facilities, including the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, the Port of Baku and infrastructure projects being implemented in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories.

The sides also discussed energy cooperation, with particular attention to Azerbaijan’s contribution to European energy security, prospects for expanding natural gas supplies to European markets and ongoing renewable energy projects.

The meeting also featured an exchange of views on the Azerbaijan–Armenia reconciliation process. Rafiyev briefed the delegation on developments since the Washington summit, Azerbaijan’s peace agenda and measures undertaken to promote confidence-building between the sides.

The visiting delegation raised a number of questions concerning bilateral and regional issues, which were addressed during the meeting.

The discussions underscored the breadth of Azerbaijan–EU cooperation and the parties’ interest in further developing partnership in energy, connectivity, trade, climate action and regional stability.