António Costa visits Baku to deepen EU–Azerbaijan energy and security cooperation

European Council President António Costa travelled to Baku on Wednesday (11 March) to strengthen European Union–Azerbaijan cooperation on energy security, defence and transport connectivity, as the war in Iran continues to disrupt global energy markets.

Meeting President Ilham Aliyev, Costa expressed the EU’s “full solidarity” with Azerbaijan following an Iran-linked attack on the Nakhchivan exclave last week. He also thanked Baku for helping evacuate European citizens from Iran.

Key developments

• Azerbaijan evacuated around 1,800 people from Iran, including EU nationals, since the conflict began.

• The EU and Azerbaijan are discussing a new cooperation framework covering security, defence, energy, digital development and transport.

• The Southern Gas Corridor remains central to EU efforts to diversify gas supplies from Russia.

• 16 European countries, including 10 EU member states, currently receive Azerbaijani gas.

Costa said Brussels could mobilise investment and clean-tech partnerships to support Azerbaijan’s energy transition, while expanding gas deliveries under the 2022 EU–Azerbaijan memorandum, which targets 20 bcm annually.

He also highlighted the Middle Corridor transport route linking Europe and Asia, noting that the Baku–Nakhchivan rail link would strengthen trade resilience.

Separately, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told the European Parliament that Armenia remains committed to EU integration, while defending the recent Armenia–Azerbaijan peace agreement aimed at stabilising the South Caucasus after decades of conflict.

ℹ️ Euronews