Azerbaijan intensifies its European engagement at the EPC Summit
Azerbaijan announced plans to increase and diversify its energy supplies to Europe beyond the current 10 EU member states during the 9th European Political Community Summit in Dublin.
Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev revealed the country's intention to expand its energy footprint in Europe during discussions with European Council President Antonio Costa at the EPC summit. The talks focused on long-term energy contracts within the framework of the EU-Azerbaijan Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy, established in 2022.
Aliyev highlighted that Azerbaijan has already increased gas supplies to the EU from 8 billion cubic meters to 13 billion cubic meters, representing nearly half of the country's exports. With new gas field discoveries, Azerbaijan plans to further boost these supplies.
The resumption of negotiations on a new EU-Azerbaijan agreement is good news for our citizens.
Strategic partnerships
Separately, Aliyev and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham signed a Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and the UK. The agreement emphasizes defense and security cooperation, trade expansion, renewable energy development, and technological advancement including artificial intelligence.
The UK, historically Azerbaijan's largest European investor through BP's Caspian operations, committed to strengthening cooperation across security priorities and supporting the Middle Corridor transport project that connects Asia to Europe through the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
Ukraine cooperation
During the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held detailed talks with Aliyev regarding emergency support for Ukraine's energy grid ahead of winter and post-conflict reconstruction. Contracts were signed under the bilateral 'Drone Deal,' with Zelenskyy confirming efforts to scale up orders.
Azerbaijan has provided €1.35 million in emergency grid support to Ukraine, bringing total humanitarian aid from Baku to Kyiv to €48 million, primarily focused on civilian energy infrastructure and medical rehabilitation. Ukraine is also studying Azerbaijan's post-conflict reconstruction in Karabakh as a potential model for its own recovery.
Regional peace and connectivity
Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed advancing their peace process, including border delimitations, water cooperation, and electricity grid interconnection. They also reviewed progress on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) connectivity project, with 105,000 tonnes of cargo transported to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory since November 2025.
President Aliyev also met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to upgrade the Southern Gas Corridor's infrastructure, anchored by the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). Additionally, he held talks with Moldovan President Maia Sandu on energy cooperation, Romanian President Nicusor Dan on linking the Caspian and Black Seas, and Bulgarian and Czech premiers on energy projects.
Costa invited Aliyev to Brussels to continue discussions on EU-Azerbaijan cooperation, recognizing the South Caucasus country's growing role in Europe's energy supply and security landscape.
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