EU's von der Leyen meets Azerbaijan's Aliyev, boosting energy and regional ties

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Tuesday, opening a two-day visit to the South Caucasus that underscored the European Union’s growing strategic interest in the region as it seeks to strengthen energy security, transport links and regional stability.

Baku is the first stop of von der Leyen’s regional tour before she travels to Armenia, with the European Commission describing the visit as part of sustained high-level engagement with partners across the South Caucasus.

At a joint press conference following their talks, the two leaders focused on the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, transport connectivity, energy cooperation and the broader strategic partnership between the EU and Azerbaijan.

Von der Leyen described Azerbaijan as a key partner for the 27-member bloc, highlighting its role in supporting Europe’s energy security amid geopolitical uncertainty.

“In recent years, Azerbaijan has proven to be a reliable, trusted energy partner to the European Union. We have not forgotten that at a time when Russia weaponized energy in terms of gas for Europe, Azerbaijan stepped up. The Southern Gas Corridor indeed strengthened Europe’s energy security, and it is a remarkable success story,” she said in Baku on Wednesday.

The chief of the EU executive further welcomed progress in the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, saying the agreement could open the door to broader regional cooperation.

“I want to congratulate you for initiating a historic peace agreement with Armenia. You showed personal leadership in promoting peace and cooperation across the region. Together we can indeed turn peace on paper into peace in practice,” von der Leyen said.

The European Commission president announced that Brussels would propose launching an EU-Azerbaijan Connectivity Partnership, covering transport, energy and digital infrastructure. She said the EU’s Global Gateway initiative would provide up to €200 million in grants for projects across the South Caucasus, with the potential to mobilise up to €2 billion in public and private investment.

Von der Leyen also announced a €20 million programme to support peace-building initiatives, including demining, healthcare, rural development and backing small and medium-sized enterprises.

Unprecedented 'active phase' in relations

Aliyev said relations with the European Commission had entered an unprecedented phase of engagement, pointing to a series of high-level visits between Brussels and Baku over the past year.

“We have a very active phase of relationship between the European Commission and Azerbaijan. This is unprecedented dynamism in our relationship, which reflects the mutual view of all sides to intensify our cooperation and to strengthen partnership,” he said.

The Azerbaijani president also highlighted the country’s growing role in Europe’s energy mix, noting that exports to EU member states had increased significantly since the signing of the 2022 energy partnership.

“Today, half of our gas export goes to the member states of the European Union,” Aliyev said, adding that the Southern Gas Corridor had become “the main artery for transportation of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe.”

Beyond energy, both leaders identified transport connectivity as a central pillar of future cooperation. Von der Leyen described the South Caucasus as a strategic crossroads linking Europe, the Caspian region and Central Asia, while Aliyev pointed to Azerbaijan’s role in developing east-west and north-south transport corridors and expanding cargo flows through the country.

The visit comes as Brussels continues its efforts to diversify energy supplies and develop alternative trade routes following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Since signing a strategic energy partnership with Azerbaijan in 2022, cooperation has expanded beyond natural gas to include renewable energy, digital infrastructure and the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, commonly known as the Middle Corridor.

Von der Leyen’s visit to Baku coincides with a broader week of EU diplomacy in the region.

On the same day, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner held talks in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, focusing on regional security, migration, trade and connectivity.

The parallel engagements reflect the EU’s broader strategy to strengthen ties with the South Caucasus and Türkiye as Brussels seeks to deepen cooperation on energy, transport, economic resilience, and regional stability.

Von der Leyen is due to continue her regional tour in Armenia, where discussions are expected to focus on peace, connectivity and the EU’s continued engagement across the South Caucasus.