EU–Azerbaijan: Von der Leyen Announces Connectivity, Peace and Green Energy Partnership!

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks in Baku alongside President Ilham Aliyev, stressing that the EU wants to deepen its partnership with Azerbaijan at a decisive moment for the South Caucasus. Von der Leyen congratulates Azerbaijan on initiating a historic peace agreement with Armenia and says the EU strongly supports turning “peace on paper” into peace in practice. She announces that the EU’s Global Gateway Investment Programme will invest up to €200 million in grants for transport, energy and digital links across the South Caucasus, with the potential to mobilise up to €2 billion in public and private investment. Possible projects include the rail connection through Nakhchivan and the development of the Port of Baku, strengthening the South Caucasus as a strategic crossroads between Europe, the Caspian and Central Asia. Von der Leyen also announces a new €20 million peace-fostering programme to support border communities through healthcare, ambulances, demining, rural development, water management, precision farming and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. Energy remains a key pillar of the EU–Azerbaijan partnership. Von der Leyen thanks Azerbaijan for stepping up when Russia weaponised energy and highlights future cooperation on offshore wind in the Caspian Sea, clean electricity, renewables, interconnections and regional energy networks. She also welcomes Azerbaijan’s plans for a green energy corridor linking Azerbaijan with the EU, and describes the idea of an electricity cable to Armenia as a promising way for renewable energy to support peace. Her message is clear: the EU sees Azerbaijan as a central partner for peace, connectivity, energy security and economic cooperation across the South Caucasus. #VonDerLeyen #Azerbaijan #Baku #SouthCaucasus #Armenia #eudebates