News

EU-Azerbaijan relations: "a partnership of equals and of mutual benefit"

9 March 2017

EEAS official Adriano Martins outlined the EU percpetion of its relations with Azerbaijan during a LINKS-EPC event at the European Parliament on 7 March.

"Azerbaijan is an important partner for the EU and is a partner within the Eastern Partnership where the six partners and the EU commited to uphold values of democracy, human rights and free market. We work together in this political and cooperation framework to address challenges and develop a closer relationship based on a partnership of equals and of mutual benefit." This was stated by Adriano Martins, Deputy Head of the Eastern partnership Division of the European Union External Action Service when he addressed the conference "EU-Azerbaijan relations: taking the relationship to a higher level", that was organised by LINKS and the EPC in the European Parliament on Tuesday, 7 March 2017.

Other speakers in the event included the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Mahmud Mamed-Guliev; MEPs Heidi Hautala (Greens) and Andreijs Mamikins (S and D Group), Fuad Muradov MP, Head of the Azerbaijan Delegation to the Eurosnest Parliamentary Assembly; Cavanansir Feyziyev MP, Joint Chair of the Azerbaijan-EU Interparliamentary Committee; Rovzan Rzayev MP, Matthew Bryza (Atlantic Council), Ahmad Alili (CESD) and Dennis Sammut LINKS). Amanda Paul (EPC) chaired the event.

You may read more on the conference here

In his address to the conference Adriano Martins mentioned tangible results of the positive current trend in relations between the EU and Azerbaijan, including the successful visit of President Aliyev to Brussels on 6 February; the launch of negotiations on the new Agreement the day after; the resumption of contacts under the PCA, which has already resulted in all four subcommittee meetings (after a pause of two years); and the resumption of cooperation between the Azerbaijan Parliament and the European Parliament."I am convinced that the negotiations and the new agreement will contribute to deepening our relations raising them at the level of institutions, and bringing real and sustainable benefits to citizens. We are looking forward to discussing the text in our next round of negotiations at the end of April in Baku", Mr Martins told the gathering.

Speaking about the history of EU-Azerbaijan relations, Mr Martins said,

"In 2016 we celebrated 25 years of relations between independent Azerbaijan and the EU. We have travelled a long (and not always easy) way over those years, including previous attempts to update our current legal basis, but today we are both determined to advance our cooperation, in our mutual interest. The decision to open negotiations on a new agreement reflects an evolution of a continuous strengthening of our partnership, building on our first Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which entered into force in 1999. Azerbaijan has changed much since then, and so has the EU.

The new agreement should also allow us to begin building on the existing PCA and to broaden the scope of our relations, taking account of the Review of the European Neighbourhood Policy as well as new global political and economic challenges we face together.

The launch of negotiations is also a result of Azerbaijan's draft proposal for an "Agreement for a Strategic Partnership" handed over during the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga and corresponds to your expressed interest in a rapid launch of negotiations. It should allow us to begin building on the existing Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan to broaden the scope of our friendly relations, taking account of the Review of the European Neighbourhood Policy as well as new global political and economic challenges we face together.

Sectoral cooperation should be ambitious. New opportunities raise now in areas such as tourism, infrastructure and transportation links. Important aspects are the possibilities for EU companies to take part in public procurement. The EU stands ready to cooperate and support Azerbaijan in this respect and is open to broadening and opening new areas of cooperation."

Mr Martins touched on the issue of governance and human rights and laid down the position and expectations of the European Union:

"Expectations for a strong new partnership are high. In this respect, a well-functioning democracy with a solid system of checks and balances is vital. We believe that the negotiating process will be guided by a strong commitment to values of democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights, as well as principles of market economy. These expectations were expressed by the EU Member States on the occasion of our adoption of the negotiating mandate.

The EU remains concerned regarding human rights. Some activists are still in prison and some others have been detained and sentence with harsh sentences. The EU expects Azerbaijan to uphold its international commitments both as regards fundamental freedoms and due process.On the Constitutional amendments passed by referendum on 26 September 2016, we have encouraged AZ to take account of the opinion of the Council of Europe's Venice Commission, especially when it comes to implementation of these changes, both as regards their content and the surrounding process.

Speaking about the new agreement, Adriano Martins said, "political reforms and economic cooperation will be important aspects, at equal footing with our strategic energy relation and the importance of the Southern Gas Corridor's role in the EU's strategy to diversify our energy sources and transportation routes. At the same time, this agreement should help our citizens and companies to come closer together and to make the most out of new opportunities."

source: commonspace.eu

Latest

Editor's choice

Monday Commentary

Monday Commentary: PEACE IN OUR TIME?

19 October 2026

Making peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan was never going to be simple, nor easy, nor quick. It is taking time, writes Dennis Sammut in this Monday Commentary. “There is a sense of realism coming from the leaders of the two countries – President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and prime minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, that frankly, is necessary and welcome”, he writes. At a time when conflicts are raging all over the world – from Ukraine to the Gulf, from Africa to South Asia, the prospect that Armenia and Azerbaijan had finally, after decades of conflict that left thousands of dead and many more displaced, decided on embarking on a journey of peace was welcomed. Peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan can be top-down up to a point. Both leaders have spent political capital preparing for a peace deal. But both are aware that their people are not ready for peace yet. In fact, in Armenia, most of the elite are negative toward a peace deal with Azerbaijan. Pashinyan needs time to persuade his countryfolk. That is why 2031 is realistic. Ilham Aliyev runs a tighter shop, but he is also not immune to public opinion. Every time someone hits a landmine in Karabakh, which unfortunately happens often, peace comes into question. Which is why Aliyev chooses to sound hardline, more often than not. In pursuing the peace agenda, both Aliyev and Pashinyan need to proceed cautiously. But they are right in making peace the central issue in their agenda. It is the main issue, and the one that will define them in history. So forward, cautiously but resolutely! In pursuing the peace agenda, Aliyev and Pashinyan need to be supported clearly and unambiguously. There are too many people in Baku and Yerevan who are sitting on the sides, waiting. The international community is not doing enough. It is time to be counted. Otherwise, the spoilers will win, and the region will go back to its bad habits. (Click the image to read the full commentary).

Dennis Sammut

Editor's choice

News

Ukraine Peace Talks Set to Expand as Russia and Europe Clash Over Post-war Security

13 November 2026

Ukraine and Russia could see European countries join the next round of peace negotiations, following talks between US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday (November 12). However, conflicting positions over European military involvement, Ukraine’s territorial future and the continent’s security arrangements highlight the difficulties facing the diplomatic process. Speaking after the meeting, Witkoff said European participation would be an important development, describing the countries concerned as key partners. Kushner also indicated that Washington had noticed a shift in European attitudes and believed their involvement would not obstruct progress. In a statement published on X, he said the expanded discussions would address broader European security arrangements alongside territorial disputes between Russia and Ukraine. The US envoys subsequently travelled to Dublin, where they met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a European summit. Zelenskyy welcomed the possibility of European participation and expressed hope that the negotiations would include measures to reduce tensions and establish ceasefires. He also reiterated the importance of European representation in decisions concerning the continent’s security. Moscow, however, has offered a more cautious interpretation of the proposed expansion. Putin's aide, Yuri Ushakov, suggested that European countries should first reconsider their military assistance to Kyiv, arguing that their current actions demonstrated an unwillingness to pursue peace. Putin similarly called on Washington to work with its European allies to establish whether they genuinely wanted peace or continued confrontation with Russia. The Russian president also rejected the prospect of European peacekeeping troops being deployed to Ukraine following a potential agreement, describing such a presence as a continuation of the war. His position reflects wider disagreements over the future European security architecture, with Moscow seeking discussions on the continent's broader security arrangements, while European leaders insist that such negotiations cannot replace a settlement of the war. Simultaneously, Zelenskyy raised concerns about disruptions to Starshield, the US-made satellite communications service used by Ukrainian forces. He described Washington’s discussions with Moscow about Europe's future security as unusual and warned against decisions that could undermine Ukraine's sovereignty. Despite the diplomatic activity, fighting continued. Russian drone attacks killed two people in Ukraine's Sumy region and injured five in Rivne, while a separate attack in Russia's Belgorod region killed one person and injured four. Ukrainian agricultural company Kernel Holding also suspended operations at all its oilseed extraction facilities following repeated Russian attacks.

Last week I visited Baku, Azerbaijan. My visit was relatively short, but very intensive, and had many meetings with stakeholders and colleagues. When I arrived in Baku first time in 1996, Azerbaijan was a different country: weak, poor, and shaken by defeat in war. For thirty year the Karabakh issue dominated the agenda: the political agenda but also the popular mindset. Now, thirty years later, Azerbaijan has returned to Karabakh, and peace with Armenia is on the horizon. It is a new era for Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, for the South Caucasus, but also for Europe. But we cannot be complacent: the Peace agreement has been initialed but not signed; borders remain closed; TRIPP is ambitious but remains an idea; and there are spoilers who want to turn the clock back. We must not allow them, and in this Europe and Azerbaijan must work together. Europe’ vanguard organization is the European Union – it is a free union of 27 member states; it is a strong global economic force, and increasingly a diplomatic and military force too. But it remains “work in progress” and can often appear dysfunctional. It often lacks collective and institutional memory. In its dealings with Azerbaijan the EU has made many mistakes – not least opening the delegation here late – in 2008. It sometimes appears condescending. Some utterances from the European Parliament and from some quarters in some member states are not understandable even for me. They irritate the Azerbaijanis, but serve no other purpose But Azerbaijan has also not handled relations with the EU well. It has failed to respond when the hand of friendship reached out; and it confused irritating actions, sometimes by well-meaning people; sometimes by outright spoilers, with strategic action. In short, EU-Azerbaijan relations have suffered from a lack of proper dialogue. This dialogue must be frank, honest and multi-faceted involving different segments of society on both sides. Is Azerbaijan Europe? When Azerbaijan applied to join the Council of Europe in the 1990s, there were some who opposed, saying this was not Europe. I was one of the people who argued that Armenia and Azerbaijan may be on the periphery of the continent geographically, but were European in essence. Certainly their elites. During the discussion on 4 September in Baku, my friend Farhad Mammedov, mentioned that Azerbaijan is not interested in joining the EU, and was now close to the Central Asian countries in the 5 plus 1 format. Neither things mean that Azerbaijan is not Europe. There are several European countries that are not in the EU, and do not want to be, for example Norway and Switzerland. Iceland has recently voted to stay out of the EU. The UK was a member and left. Europe is bigger than the EU, and the holding of the European Political Community summit in Baku in 2027 proves that. Despite all the rhetoric, I never heard the president of Azerbaijan saying that Azerbaijan is not Europe, nor have I heard any European president say it either. Not wanting to join the EU and forging close relations with neighbouring regions does not make Azerbaijan any less European. It is only logical that when Europeans talk to Azerbaijan they talk like family. The conversation is often frank. It must also be honest, and Europeans need always to remember this too. A frank, honest and multi-faceted dialogue A frank, honest and multifaceted dialogue will contribute to relations between Azerbaijan and the rest of Europe: it will avoid misperception, which unfortunately is very common on both sides; it will provide a forum where problems can be discussed and resolved, and it will increase mutual trust, so that together common problems can be addressed. (click image to read the full Monday Commentary)

Dennis Sammut

Editor's choice

Monday Commentary

Monday Commentary: “The barren rocks of Aden” and “These lands of Yemen are so ruthless”

21 September 2026

There are two early 20th-century tunes that mark foreign attempts to occupy and “pacify” Yemen. The Scottish tune “The barren rocks of Aden” marks the mobilisation of Highland soldiers, enlisted to be deployed to the Yemeni port of Aden, that in 1837 became the last colony to be incorporated into the British Empire. The tune talks of the harshness of the terrain, but is celebratory, It was even played as a farewell tune to Sir William Luce at the parade in Sharjah celebrating his end as “British Viceroy” in the Middle East in 1966. The second tune is an Anatolian lament. As Ilker Sezer reminded us this weekend, in his weekly feature on “Turkiye Today”, it “mourns the tragic fate of Ottoman soldiers dispatched to the harsh, remote deserts of Yemen during the fall of the empire, young men who marched away from their villages and never returned home. Most of their names, and numbers, were never recorded. Yet, their fate left a mark on the Turkish psyche.” Subsequent invaders have discovered that Yemen is a grave that cannot be overcome by the strength of modern technology, and that whilst Yemeni society is splintered and divided, building a reliable alliance with Yemeni factions is difficult. These are the harsh lessons facing Saudi Arabia, as the Kingdom faces its biggest challenge in its modern history. The leadership of the Kingdom now has to respond decisively. At stake is their very credibility. This is likely to be a long and messy conflict. Saudi military objectives need to be focused: to box in the Houthis rather than destroy them. This is likely to include: (a) regaining territory lost on the Red Sea coast; (b) control over Bab el Mandeb Strait; (c) some kind of cordon sanitaire on the Saudi-Yemeni border; and if things go well (d) the capture of Sanaa. All this would not eliminate the Houthi problem, but it will contain it. In the end the Saudis will have to continue managing Yemen with a mixture of carrot and stick. For the moment, the stick is likely, but the carrot cannot be forgotten either. (click the image to read the Monday Commentary in full)

Dennis Sammut

EU-Azerbaijan relations: "a partnership of equals and of mutual benefit"

Latest

Monday Commentary: PEACE IN OUR TIME?

Ukraine Peace Talks Set to Expand as Russia and Europe Clash Over Post-war Security

Popular

Monday Commentary: European-Azerbaijan relations need an intensive and multifaceted dialogue that is frank and honest

Monday Commentary: “The barren rocks of Aden” and “These lands of Yemen are so ruthless”