Expert: Economic aspects to influence Brussels’ position on Baku

The EU’s interest in the supply of Azerbaijani gas, as well as the participation of European companies in projects that will be implemented in Karabakh on Baku’s initiative, may become an additional economic stimulus for interaction between Azerbaijan and the European Union, Report informs, citing Mikhail Neyzhmakov, a leading analyst at the Russian Agency for Political and Economic Relations.

“Similar areas for cooperation, as you know, were also touched upon during the recent negotiations of the European Commissioner on Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Olivér Várhelyi with the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Mikayil Jabbarov. Experience (including the EU history) shows that political decisions do not always follow the interests of business. Nevertheless, these economic aspects, of course, will have an impact on the position of Brussels regarding Baku,” the expert said.

According to him, Brussels has already made it clear that they have a finger on the pulse of the most resonant issues related to politics in the South Caucasus region: “It is worth noting that attention to the development of the Eastern Partnership program in the European Union was announced, among other things, in the first months of the pandemic associated with serious challenges for the EU. Recall, for example, the proposal regarding the long-term goals of this initiative, presented by the European Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in March 2020, or the agenda of the online Eastern Partnership summit in June of the same year.”

EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi noted Azerbaijan’s important role in energy supplies to Europe during his visit to the South Caucasus countries.

“Azerbaijan is a strong partner and has already begun to provide its assistance in terms of diversification of energy resources,” Várhelyi said.