Azerbaijan

Eastern Partnership

The EU cooperates with Azerbaijan in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and its eastern regional dimension, the Eastern Partnership.

Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

EU and Azerbaijan relations are based on the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, in force since 1999.

On 14 November 2016, the Council adopted a mandate to negotiate an upgraded framework agreement with Azerbaijan. Negotiations were launched on 7 February 2017.

Cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan is also guided by the joint partnership priorities in place since 2018. Those priorities reflect the values and principles of the European Neighbourhood Policy, and include:

strengthening institutions and good governance
economic development and market opportunities
connectivity, energy efficiency, the environment and climate action
mobility and people-to-people contacts

Cooperation Council

The Cooperation Council is the highest formal institution established under the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation agreement, and supervises the implementation of the agreement.

The 18th EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation Council was held in Brussels on 19 July 2022. The aim of the meeting was to review the overall state of EU-Azerbaijan relations and to discuss matters of mutual interest with a view to future cooperation.

EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation Council, 19 July 2022

Visa facilitation

The EU-Azerbaijan visa facilitation agreement entered into force in 2014, making it easier and cheaper for citizens of Azerbaijan, and in particular frequent travellers, to acquire short term visas that allow them to travel throughout most EU countries.

Agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan on the facilitation of the issuance of visas (EU official journal)

Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation process

Support for peace

The EU fully supports the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on mutual recognition of each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders, in line with the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration.

The EU has been working for years with both parties and international partners to create the conditions for lasting peace, with the personal involvement of consecutive presidents of the European Council and through the continued efforts of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia.

In August 2025, the EU welcomed the initialling of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty and the signing of a political declaration. This agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan marks a significant breakthrough to end decades of conflict.

The EU stands ready to invest in regional connectivity and a full opening up, to benefit first and foremost populations divided by conflict legacies, and to bring the region closer to sustainable peace, stability and prosperity.

Civilian mission

On 23 January 2023, the Council agreed to establish a civilian mission in Armenia (EUMA) under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

The objective of the mission is to contribute to:

stability in the border areas of Armenia and Azerbaijan
building confidence on the ground

The deployment of EUMA follows the Council decision of 17 October 2022 to deploy a team of monitoring experts along the Armenian side of the international border with Azerbaijan with the objective of monitoring, analysing and reporting on the situation in the region.

The mission’s mandate is active until February 2027.

EU support for Azerbaijan

Investments

The EU is Azerbaijan’s largest foreign investor, in both the oil and the non-oil sector.

The EU supports Azerbaijan with investments to support the country’s economic diversification and accelerate the green and digital transition. EU investments finance, for example:

the port of Baku as a sustainable hub for the movement of goods and services
the digitalisation of transport corridors in Azerbaijan
the competitiveness of 25 000 startups and SMEs
rural development and economic growth
sustainable infrastructure and solutions for smarter and greener cities

The EU is also Azerbaijan’s largest donor with regard to mine clearance operations in Azerbaijan, providing vital support to reduce risks and save lives.

EU–Azerbaijan relations (European Commission)

Reforms and society

The EU supports socioeconomic development and reforms in Azerbaijan through the Neighbourhood Development and Cooperation Instrument (NDICI).

Justice sector reform is one of the priorities of the EU’s assistance to Azerbaijan. The EU specifically supports alternative dispute resolution, helps fight corruption, and provides legal aid and better access to justice for citizens and businesses.

Azerbaijan is one of the main beneficiaries of the twinning instrument, which offers peer-to-peer training and exchanges with public administrations from EU member states.

The EU is the leading supporter of civil society in Azerbaijan, promoting democracy, human rights, and freedom of media, expression and assembly.

Trade

In 2024 the EU was Azerbaijan’s main trading partner, accounting for around 41.2% of the country’s total trade in goods, and Azerbaijan’s largest export market, with a 63.3% share in its exports and a 13.2% share in its imports.

EU exports to Azerbaijan are dominated by machinery and transport equipment. Other EU exports to Azerbaijan include mainly chemicals and related products, as well as manufactured goods and articles.

EU-Azerbaijan trade relations (European Commission)

Energy partners

Azerbaijan is a strategic energy partner for the EU, currently supplying around 5% of the EU’s gas demand. The southern gas corridor is a strategic initiative to bring gas from the Caspian Sea to the European markets and is a key tool for enhancing the security of energy supplies in Europe.

In 2019, Azerbaijan joined the Eastern Europe energy efficiency and environment partnership (E5P). Further EU support in the energy sector, including energy efficiency, has been provided through the EU4Energy initiative.

In March 2024, the EU also facilitated a memorandum of understanding on wind energy cooperation between the Azeri renewable energy agency and the European industry association WindEurope.