Azerbaijan

COVID-19: Updates from the EU’s eastern neighbours

As EU countries begin mulling exit strategies, EURACTIV takes a look at the COVID-19 situation in EU's Eastern neighbourhood, including the spread of the virus and a short overview of containment measures.

Nagorno-Karabakh holds ‘elections’ despite international criticism and virus concerns

The authorities of the internationally unrecognised breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh are holding presidential and parliamentary elections amid international criticism and despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Europe’s Southern Gas Corridor ‘almost ready’, says Azebaijan’s SOCAR

A 25-year supply contract has been signed with Italy, and the first Azeri gas is expected to start flowing before the end of 2020, said Vitaly Baylarbayov, deputy vice president of SOCAR, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan.

In snap parliamentary elections, Azeris put hopes in young candidates

Exit polls look good for the ruling party in Azerbaijan's snap elections, held on Sunday (9 February). The main difference compared to past elections is that many more young and Western-trained people are expected to fill the 125-seat Azeri Parliament.

Azerbaijan braces for early elections, banks on ‘modernisation’

Azerbaijan will hold early elections on 9 February, eight months ahead of schedule, after President Ilham Aliyev agreed to the ruling party's request to dissolve parliament. The move is in line with a recent major government shakeup and the country's drive to modernise and rebuild EU ties.

Turkey and Azerbaijan mark completion of TANAP pipeline to take gas to Europe

Turkey and Azerbaijan formally marked the completion of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) on Saturday (30 November), a milestone in a major project to help reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian gas.

Erdogan thanks Orban for ‘support at the international stage’

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met in Baku on Tuesday (15 October), on the fringes of the Turkic Council, a group of countries speaking the same family of languages, which Hungary wants to join.

East-West corridor: ‘Hard’ versus ‘soft’ connectivity?

A conference organised by EURACTIV on ‘Global Eurasia – connectivity as a driver for peace, stability and security’ raised questions such as “greener” connectivity, in line with Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen’s priorities. But diplomats from the region were more focused on infrastructure.

Juncker Commission still hopes to finalise agreement with Azerbaijan

The Juncker Commission still hopes that it could conclude a new trade and political agreement with Azerbaijan in the next two months, provided that Baku moves forward on the trade part of the text, sources have told EURACTIV.

Mogherini: ‘Inshallah, EU and Azerbaijan will soon finalise their agreement’

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini expressed hope on Thursday (4 April) that the EU and Azerbaijan would conclude a new trade and political agreement very soon, using the Arabic expression Inshallah (God willing).

EU undisturbed over conflicting Nagorno-Karabakh messages

Conflicting messages about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have been aired in recent days: "Territories for peace" and a “new war for new territories”.  But the European Union made it clear it trusted the messages of peace.

Commission eager to see the capacity of Southern gas corridor doubled

A recent meeting of government officials and big energy companies in Azerbaijan signalled ambitions about doubling the capacity of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC), and of more European countries becoming clients.

France, Russia and US ‘working closely together’ on Nagorno-Karabakh

Positive momentum in the search for a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been confirmed in recent days, with fresh meetings and more shuttle diplomacy in the region.

Azerbaijan drops assault charges against jailed blogger

Azerbaijan has dropped fresh charges against a jailed anti-corruption blogger who has denounced his prosecution as politically motivated, prosecutors said Tuesday (22 January).

EU, UN welcome thaw in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations over Nagorno-Karabakh

The EU welcomed on Friday (18 January) a recent thaw in relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Pashinyan: the Providential Man to solve Armenia’s problems?

A political earthquake hit Europe’s furthest far-flung frontier last week, as Armenians voted in what has been labelled their nation’s first free and transparent elections. But just who is the revolutionary leader that has captured the hearts of Armenia’s inhabitants?

NATO: Baku is ‘perfect venue’ for talking to Russia

Azerbaijan's capital Baku has once again been the venue for a meeting between the top brass of Russia and US, at a time when relations between the two military superpowers are at a new low.

Bolton tests the Caucasus waters ‘to advance American interests’

The Assistant to US President for National Security Affairs John Bolton arrived in Azerbaijan on Wednesday (24 October), as part of a tour which will also take him to Armenia and Georgia, in an effort described by commentators as an attempt to isolate Iran.

Merkel holds ‘intensive’ discussions in Azerbaijan

German Chancellor Angela Merkel held what she called "intensive" discussions with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in talks that addressed energy cooperation, human rights, and the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

After Trump attack on Russia ties, Merkel eyes Azeri gas

Castigated by US President Donald Trump as relying too much on Russian gas supplies, German Chancellor Angela Merkel heads to Azerbaijan this week to discuss the development of a southern pipeline to deliver gas to Europe from the Caspian.

Prankster strikes again, catches Juncker out on Putin, Trump

In a recorded telephone call with a prankster impersonating Armenia's new prime minister, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker described Russian President Vladimir Putin as his friend but said US President Donald Trump couldn’t understand what the world is about.

EU and Azerbaijan agree ‘Partnership Priorities’

A milestone in EU-Azerbaijan relations was reached in Brussels yesterday (11 July), with the end of negotiations of the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership Priorities in the presence of President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.

Three presidents inaugurate TANAP pipeline in Turkey

The presidents of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia will inaugurate today (12 June) the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), a key section of Europe's long-delayed Southern Gas Corridor (SGC), according to announcements made in the three country's media.

New Italian minister calls the TAP pipeline ‘pointless’

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte comfortably won a confidence vote in the lower house of parliament yesterday (6 June), but divisions inside his coalition put at risk a major gas pipeline project, seen by Brussels as a cornerstone of EU’s energy security.