Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov met with Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighborhood in the European Commission.
The meeting focused on the priorities of the strategic energy partnership between Azerbaijan and the European Union (EU), the role of the Southern Gas Corridor in Europe’s energy security, as well as issues related to new countries joining the list of buyers of Azerbaijani gas. It was noted that 12.8 bcm of gas were supplied from Azerbaijan to Europe last year. It was emphasized that, alongside natural gas, renewable energy, energy efficiency and other key areas are reflected in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Azerbaijan and the EU on a strategic partnership in the energy sector, and that this document forms the basis of bilateral energy relations.
The meeting also addressed regional energy interconnections for electricity transmission, including projects planned between Azerbaijan and Europe via the Black Sea, as well as via Nakhchivan and Georgia. Views were exchanged on the inclusion of the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe Green Energy Corridor project in ENTSO-E Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) for 2026–2036, as well as on obtaining the status of a Project of Mutual Interest (PMI). It was also noted that a new route connecting Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye via the Zangezur corridor would serve as a strategic energy corridor linking Central Asia with Europe.
During the discussion, opportunities for cooperation with European companies in the field of renewable energy projects, particularly in the production and transmission of solar and wind energy, were assessed. Issues of cooperation within the Azerbaijan–EU Energy Dialogue, the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council and the Green Energy Advisory Council were also reviewed.
