Marta Kos: Peace between Armenia, Azerbaijan opens door to regional connectivity

Peace efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan have opened new opportunities for regional cooperation and economic integration, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said.

“The shift in mentality, combined with the peace process, has opened many doors,” Kos said during a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference on “Open Corridor Policy? Deepening Trans-Caspian Cooperation.”

She noted that the European Union strongly supports normalization efforts between the two South Caucasus countries. She also acknowledged the role of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in advancing the peace agenda.

"Thank you President Aliyev for your leadership in this peace project which is heavily supported by the European Union."

Kos highlighted tangible changes on the ground. Borders that were previously closed, with no crossings or trade, are beginning to reopen. “It is really moving in a very short time,” she said, describing the pace of progress as significant.

Kos said the evolving regional dynamic forms part of the European Union’s broader connectivity agenda under its new Black Sea strategy.

“This connectivity agenda is part of the new European Black Sea strategy, one of our flagship projects,” she said.

“We want to use positive geopolitical changes to benefit the business community and people.”

She noted that for many years the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea were perceived as dividing lines rather than connecting bridges. “This switch in mentality is crucial,” she added.

Highlighting the complexity of regional diplomacy, Kos said cooperation must extend across multiple formats.

“It is not only Armenia and Azerbaijan. It is Türkiye and Armenia, Türkiye and Azerbaijan, then the three of them together, and then with the European Union — four of us,” she said. “Without good cooperation, this cannot be done.”

Kos acknowledged that decision-making within the European Union, which comprises 27 member states, is not always straightforward. However, she said there is increasing recognition that connectivity projects in the South Caucasus could prove transformative.

Kos emphasized TRIPP, a 42-kilometer corridor project, as a key initiative for regional integration.

“The TRIPP cannot make sense on its own. We need more projects connected to it,” she said.

Among the initiatives under discussion is enhanced connectivity involving Nakhchivan. Kos said the European Union is discussing with Azerbaijan the launch of a feasibility study on a railway project linking the exclave.

“We are now discussing together with Azerbaijan to launch the feasibility study on the Nakhchivan railway,” she said, adding that the project is also of interest to international financial institutions.

Kos emphasized that the EU is working on compiling a pipeline of concrete projects involving Armenia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye, with priorities to be identified jointly.

“These are huge projects. They cannot be financed just by taxpayers’ money,” she said. “Whatever we are doing is creating a basis for private investors to come.”

According to the commissioner, the overall objective is to ensure long-term economic sustainability while fostering regional cooperation, even as new infrastructure links may introduce elements of competition.