This week, the EU and Azerbaijan agreed to strengthen the existing cooperation, signing a new Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy, in a bid to secure alternative gas supplies for Europe.
Both sides are also negotiating a new comprehensive agreement, to allow for enhanced cooperation in a wide range of areas, including economic diversification, investment, trade and making full use of the potential of civil society, while underscoring importance of human rights and rule of law.
Historic moment in Baku🇦🇿
We have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding in the Field of Energy, strengthening the #EU–#Azerbaijan #energy cooperation!
With this, we double the capacity of the #SouthernGasCorridor to deliver at least 20 bcm of gas to the EU annually by 2027. pic.twitter.com/h9uEe8Y3EA
— Kadri Simson (@KadriSimson) July 18, 2022
EU Commission President von der Leyen commented:
“Today, with this new Memorandum of Understanding, we are opening a new chapter in our energy cooperation with Azerbaijan, a key partner in our efforts to move away from Russian fossil fuels. Not only are we looking to strengthen our existing partnership which guarantees stable and reliable gas supplies to the EU via the Southern Gas Corridor. We are also laying the foundations of a long-term partnership on energy efficiency and clean energy, as we both pursue the objectives of the Paris Agreement. But energy is only one of the areas where we can enhance our cooperation with Azerbaijan and I look forward to tap the full potential of our relationship”.
In a comment Professor Michael Tanchum stated:
“[It’s a Memorandum of Understanding, not a deal, and definitely not a contract. The wording mentions that the EU and Azerbaijan merely “aspire” to achieve this. Furthermore, the Memorandum of Understanding indicates that this will not only involve Azeri gas]”.
🇦🇿❓🇪🇺"EU signs deal with #Azerbaijan to double gas imports by 2027"
➡️❓20 bcm of AZ's #natgas to #EU?
▪️ It's an MoU, not a deal, definitely not a contract
▪️ Wording: EU and AZ "aspire"
▪️ MoU indicated that it will not be only 🇦🇿's gas#ONGT— Prof. Michael Tanchum (@michaeltanchum) July 19, 2022
🇮🇷⛽️->🇪🇺 via 🇦🇿 Iranian gas to #Europe via swaps with Azerbaijan?
The language of the #EU–#Azerbaijan is loose enough for this to put this in the realm of possibility#Iran #natgas #ONGT https://t.co/4mHfl39ebF
— Prof. Michael Tanchum (@michaeltanchum) July 19, 2022
Picture: Baku, Azerbaijan (Pixabay)