EC: EU ready to resume negotiations with Azerbaijan on new strategic partnership deal

The European Union is set to resume negotiations with Azerbaijan on a new strategic partnership agreement, awaiting the adoption of new priorities for this collaboration, according to a written response from the European Commission's External Action Service to Report.

EU officials believe that the upcoming agreements will serve to “renew and strengthen” the partnership between the Union and Azerbaijan.

The response also addressed the recent “Strategic Partnership Agenda” signed between the EU and Armenia on December 2, 2025, which has raised concerns in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry expressed serious reservations over some aspects of the agenda. 

The EU, however, emphasised that the document was the result of bilateral negotiations that have been ongoing since 2024 and were approved by the Council of the European Union.

The EU response did not directly address the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's statement that the inclusion of issues “directed against Azerbaijan” in the partnership agenda with Armenia is “unacceptable” and negatively affects the prospects for Baku's relations with Brussels.

Regarding regional connectivity and large-scale transport infrastructure projects, such as the Middle Corridor and the Trump Route (TRIPP), the EU provided a general comment, stating that although the specifics of the TRIPP project are still under discussion, it is offering support and expertise for the practical implementation of agreements between Azerbaijan and Armenia. 

The EU reiterated its commitment to promoting an interregional transport agenda aimed at strengthening transport links, improving trade flows, and fostering a more sustainable, interconnected region.

The EU also responded to Azerbaijani concerns about the sincerity of the peace process, pointing out that it had been working with both sides and international partners for many years to create the conditions for lasting peace. Furthermore, the EU expressed its approval of the historic breakthrough achieved at the Washington summit on August 8, 2025, and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the peace process.

As part of the peace agreement draft, the EU emphasised the importance of refraining from initiating new legal proceedings and withdrawing existing claims.

As for the inclusion of a clause in the Strategic Agenda on the need to implement the decisions of the International and European courts, the Service emphasised that this is not at all about “encouraging new claims.” This concerns previously adopted decisions, and the need to implement them applies to both sides, Brussels noted.

Report, in turn, noted that these statements by the Service do not stand up to any criticism: a bilateral document between Armenia and the EU cannot contain instructions for a third party that is not a party to the agreement.

In addition, in response to a request from Report, the EU was unable to provide a clear explanation as to why, almost a month after its signing, the document (on the Strategic Agenda between the EU and Armenia - ed.) has still not been made public by Brussels.

In an unofficial comment, sources at the EC told Report that the Armenian Foreign Ministry “rushed to publish the document,” as it soon asked its European partners to make “some adjustments” to it. The sources added that until the final version of the document is agreed upon, it will not be published in the EU's Official Journal.