EU keen to expand ties with Azerbaijan
By Sara Rajabova
Europe and Azerbaijan are seeking to develop deeper relations. For Europe, Azerbaijan brings the prospect of energy security; and for Azerbaijan, Europe brings with it prestige and a certain sense of security.
Azerbaijan, with its vast resources of oil and natural gas is in a good position as a reliable partner for the old continent. Baku has already demonstrated itself as a sturdy ally on all fronts.
Azerbaijan, in the cradle of the Caspian Sea, sits on large hydrocarbon resources. Those have been seen by energy-hungry Europe as source of stability and sustainable prosperity.
From a geopolitical perspective Azerbaijan's location gives this Caspian Sea nation particular importance: bordered by Russia to the north, Iran to the south and alongside Georgia, Azerbaijan acts as gateway between Europe and Central Asia.
Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic country that combines the values of both the West and the East, as well as that of the Islamic world. The Land of Fire is actually frequently referred to as the “door to the East.”
Azerbaijan cannot be left outside the attention of the old continent. Recently, Europe has been extremely interested in expanding all-round ties with Azerbaijan, especially at a time when the country is one of the main players in the Southern Gas Corridor project - which is expected to bring relief to Europe’s energy shortage.
Johannes Hahn, EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations, said during his recent visit to Azerbaijan that the EU is interested in developing ties with Azerbaijan.
During a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev continued cooperation was discussed, particularly in relation to the question of energy and the importance of the TAP and TANAP projects, which are integral parts of the Southern Gas Corridor.
The EU is one of Azerbaijan's main trade partners. The turnover between Azerbaijan and the EU countries amounted to over $14.6 billion in 2014 while exports to EU countries amounted to $11, 568 billion and import - $ 3, 104 billion.
Shahin Mustafayev, Azerbaijan’s economy and industry minister said at a meeting with Hahn that EU countries have placed more than half of all investments in fixed capital in Azerbaijan over the past ten years.
Mustafayev said the share of EU countries in the total volume of direct investments in Azerbaijan's economy stands at 35.3 percent, while the share of foreign trade with EU countries in the total turnover of Azerbaijan amounted to 47.3 percent, and between January-February of this year amounted to 43 percent.
Moreover, both the Southern Gas Corridor projects in 2014 and TANAP in 2015 created new opportunities for cooperation.
Hahn, praised Azerbaijan for its achievements in holding a steady economy.
While Azerbaijan is a reliable partner of Europe, determined to further enlarge ties with the EU, Baku has called on the EU to publicly state its position regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
At a meeting with Hahn, Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijan’s foreign minister called on the European Union to state its position toward the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The EU has yet to formulate a well-thought out stance on the ongoing conflict.
The organization has always stated that it supports a peaceful resolution to the conflict within the perimeters of the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group.
The basis of bilateral relations was founded in 1999 with the signing of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement as well as Azerbaijan's joining the European Neighborhood Policy.
An action plan adopted in 2006 within this policy, the Eastern Partnership initiative joined by Azerbaijan as well as the agreements on energy cooperation fostered grounds for the development of bilateral and multilateral relations with the EU.