Ursula von der Leyen began her tour of the South Caucasus in Baku as the EU strengthens cooperation on regional stability, energy, and connectivity, reports Euronews.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday, kicking off her two-day visit to South Caucasus countries, which highlights the European Union's growing strategic interest in the region against the backdrop of efforts to bolster energy security, transport links, and regional stability.
Baku has become the first stop in von der Leyen's regional tour before her visit to Armenia. The European Commission described the visit as part of sustained high-level engagement with partners across the South Caucasus.
At a joint press conference following the talks, the leaders focused on the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, transport connectivity, energy cooperation, and the broader strategic partnership between the EU and Azerbaijan.
Von der Leyen called Azerbaijan a key partner for the EU, emphasizing its role in ensuring Europe's energy security amid geopolitical instability.
“In recent years, Azerbaijan has proven to be a reliable and trusted energy partner of the European Union. We have not forgotten that at the moment when Russia was using energy as a weapon against Europe, Azerbaijan stepped up. The Southern Gas Corridor has indeed strengthened Europe's energy security and has become an exceptional success story,” she stated on Wednesday in Baku.
The head of the EU executive also welcomed the progress made in the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, noting that an agreement could pave the way for broader regional cooperation.
“I want to congratulate you on the initiative for a historic peace agreement with Armenia. You have shown personal leadership in promoting peace and cooperation in the region. Together we can truly turn the peace on paper into practical peace,” von der Leyen said.
The President of the European Commission announced that Brussels would propose to launch the EU-Azerbaijan connectivity partnership, which will include transport, energy, and digital infrastructure. She also mentioned that the EU's Global Gateway initiative will provide up to 200 million euros in grants for projects in South Caucasus countries, with the potential to mobilize up to 2 billion euros in public and private investment.
Von der Leyen also announced a 20 million euro program to support peacebuilding initiatives, including demining, healthcare, rural development, and support for small and medium enterprises.
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