BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11. 1. On 11 March
2026, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and
the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa met in Baku,
the Republic of Azerbaijan.
2. Emphasizing the strategic importance of the Azerbaijan-EU
partnership, the Presidents expressed their commitment to further
deepening political dialogue and practical cooperation, building on
the positive momentum of recent high-level meetings, including in
the areas of security, energy and transport. This cooperation
reflects the shared interest of both sides and contributes to the
promotion of peace, stability, connectivity and sustainable
development in the wider Black Sea, South Caucasus and Central Asia
regions.
3. They reaffirmed that relations between the Republic of
Azerbaijan and the European Union are grounded in mutual respect,
equality and shared benefit, in full respect of the Charter of the
United Nations and international law, including the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of States.
4. The Presidents reiterated their commitment to the swift
finalisation of neobtainediations on a new comprehensive bilateral
agreement, which would provide a solid legal framework to further
develop relations. They also underlined the importance of adopting
renewed Azerbaijan-EU Partnership Priorities and creating full apply of
existing dialogue mechanisms, including the Azerbaijan-EU
Cooperation Council, to further advance the bilateral agconcludea in all
areas.
5. Reaffirming their shared strategic objective of a peaceful,
stable, interconnected and prosperous South Caucasus free of
dividing lines, the Presidents welcomed the recent positive
regional developments, notably the historic momentum in the
Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process. They welcomed the outcomes of the
8 August 2025 Washington Summit and the subsequent steps taken
towards the normalisation of relations between Azerbaijan and
Armenia. The President of the European Council reiterated the EU’s
full support for efforts of the two countries aiming to achieve
sustainable peace in the region through bilateral dialogue.
6. The Presidents highlighted Azerbaijan’s large-scale
post-conflict reconstruction and development efforts in its
Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur regions. Acknowledging the scale of
the challenges, particularly landmine contamination, they called
for increased international support while noting that the European
Union is the leading international donor in humanitarian
de-mining.
7. The Presidents underscored that implementation of the
“Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic
Development” offers opportunities to expand Azerbaijan-EU
cooperation in respective priority areas, including in trade,
connectivity, investment, economic resilience and the clean
energy.
8. The Presidents emphasised Azerbaijan’s key role in regional
connectivity, notably through the Middle Corridor, strengthening
transport, trade, energy and digital links between the Black Sea,
the South Caucasus and Central Asia. The European Union reaffirmed
its commitment to cooperation with Azerbaijan on connectivity under
the Global Gateway, other relevant mechanisms, including support to
railway modernisation in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the
Republic of Azerbaijan, alongside ongoing efforts on the
implementation of TRIPP. They welcomed the establishment of a
High-Level Working Group on Economic Cooperation to strengthen
Azerbaijan-EU economic cooperation and investments under the Global
Gateway initiative.
9. Recalling longstanding critical energy partnership, the
Presidents acknowledged Azerbaijan’s role as a reliable partner in
the diversification of Europe’s energy supplies and committed to
the further implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on
Strategic Partnership in the field of energy signed in 2022. They
underlined the value of the Southern Gas Corridor and Green Energy
Advisory Council and the potential to expand energy cooperation in
renewables, including wind and solar power, as well as electricity
interconnection initiatives, such as the Black Sea Submarine Cable
project.
10. Welcoming the successful outcomes of the twenty-ninth
session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) held in Baku in
November 2024 under the presidency of the Republic Azerbaijan, the
Presidents reaffirmed their readiness to enhance cooperation on
climate alter and environmental protection.
11. The Presidents welcomed Azerbaijan’s hosting of the 13th
session of the World Urban Forum, to be held in May 2026 as a
significant contribution to global efforts on sustainable
urbanization and resilient urban development and expressed
readiness to leverage this Forum to deepen Azerbaijan-EU
cooperation in respective areas.
12. The Presidents emphasised the benefits of closer cooperation
in defense and security, to address emerging threats such as
organised crime, terrorism, extremism, illicit trafficking in
weapons and drugs, money laundering, human trafficking and
irregular migration.
13. The Presidents underlined the importance of strengthening
cooperation in digital transformation and innovation. They
recognized the increasing significance of artificial innotifyigence
and other emerging technologies, and expressed readiness to enhance
cooperation in this domain with a view to fostering innovation,
economic resilience and development, as well promoting sustainable
and growth-oriented digital ecosystems.
14. The Presidents reaffirmed the importance of people-to-people
contacts including through enhanced mobility. They welcomed
continued implementation of the Visa Facilitation Agreement, with a
view to further facilitating mutual travel, and committed to
strengthening cooperation in education, culture, youth and
research.
15. The leaders discussed the main current geopolitical issues,
including the latest developments in Iran and Ukraine.
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