The evolving strategic relationship between Azerbaijan and the European Union, the new geopolitical realities in the South Caucasus, regional peace, connectivity, energy and expanding economic cooperation were at the center of a joint roundtable organized by the Center for Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center) and LINKS Europe Foundation under the theme “Europe-Azerbaijan relations: learning from the past; building for the future.”

Moderated by LINKS Europe Foundation Counsellor Maximiliaan van Lange, the roundtable brought together Azerbaijani and European experts and officials to reflect on the development of relations over the past three decades and explore opportunities for a stronger and more constructive partnership.

In his opening remarks, LINKS Europe Foundation Director Dennis Sammut said the discussion was particularly timely as Azerbaijan-EU relations enter a new phase.

Recalling his first visit to Azerbaijan in 1996, Sammut noted that the country was then deeply affected by war, with the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict dominating both the country's domestic political agenda and its relations with neighbouring countries and Europe.

“For almost 30 years, the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict dominated the political agenda and shaped Azerbaijan’s relations with its neighbours and with Europe,” he said, adding that the region is now entering “a new chapter.”

Sammut stressed that the resolution of conflict and the growing peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia have created new opportunities for European engagement in the South Caucasus. He called for stronger EU-Azerbaijan cooperation based on shared interests, economic opportunity, stability and peace, while acknowledging that the European Union should have established and strengthened its presence in Azerbaijan earlier.

AIR Center’s Chairman of the Board Farid Shafiyev highlighted the progress achieved in Azerbaijan’s international relations since the 1990s, recalling that the country had relatively few friends and partners during that period. He also underlined the importance of the 1996 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Azerbaijan and the EU and noted expectations for a new comprehensive agreement that could further define and strengthen bilateral relations.

According to Farid Shafiyev, while energy remains an important pillar of cooperation, the relationship should increasingly focus on transportation, connectivity, trade and broader economic cooperation.

“Transportation and connectivity are another area of growing importance. The ongoing conflicts, particularly the war between Russia and Ukraine, have fundamentally changed regional trade routes and highlighted the importance of safe, reliable, and secure cargo transportation. The geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus has changed significantly, and this has also changed the context of Azerbaijan-EU relations. At the same time, we should be careful that humanitarian issues are not used by different media outlets and institutions to revive the Karabakh issue in a way that undermines the prospects for lasting peace”.

He highlighted the Middle Corridor as an area where Azerbaijan, the EU and Central Asian partners can work together to strengthen links between Europe and Asia.

Head of the European Union Delegation to Azerbaijan, Ambassador Marijana Kujundzic, said that EU-Azerbaijan relations have developed considerably since the signing of the 1996 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. She described Azerbaijan as a reliable and important EU partner and pointed to the growing number of high-level visits and diplomatic contacts as evidence of the increasing dynamism of the relationship.

She also stressed the importance of regional peace and connectivity, noting the strategic role Azerbaijan can play in strengthening links between Europe, the Caspian region and Central Asia.

Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elshad Iskanderov said that the regional picture has changed dramatically over the past 30 years. With the active conflict in the South Caucasus no longer dominating the agenda, peacebuilding, diplomacy, public diplomacy, people-to-people contacts and civil-society cooperation are becoming increasingly important.

He emphasized, however, that peace must be supported by concrete actions and that efforts to undermine the peace process remain among the challenges facing the region.

During the panel discussions, ADA University Associate Professor Anar Valiyev highlighted the generally positive perception of the EU among Azerbaijani society, particularly in the areas of education and people-to-people contacts. He noted that European countries remain major destinations for Azerbaijani students and stressed the importance of preserving and strengthening these societal links.

AIR Center Head of Department Vasif Huseynov examined the broader geopolitical context. He stressed the importance of Azerbaijan’s strategic autonomy and argued that the EU’s role in regional connectivity and economic cooperation should be matched by greater investment and practical engagement.

He also highlighted energy cooperation, noting the importance of the 2022 EU-Azerbaijan agreement to increase Azerbaijani gas supplies to Europe. He argued that greater European investment in the infrastructure required to expand exports would be important for the future of the energy partnership.

A major focus of the discussion was the Middle Corridor, which AIR Center Senior Advisor Roza Bayramli described as an increasingly important transport, economic and digital link between Europe and Central Asia.

She noted that cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route increased from 2.76 million tonnes in 2023 to 4.48 million tonnes in 2024, remaining above 4.1 million tonnes in 2025. Container traffic also increased significantly, reaching around 76,900 TEU in 2025, 36 percent higher than the previous year.

Bayramli stressed that the next phase of the corridor’s development will require coordinated investment in ports, railways, logistics, customs procedures, digitalization and transport infrastructure. She also highlighted Azerbaijan’s growing role as a bridge between Central Asia and Europe, including through potential new connections via Nakhchivan.

She said that the Middle Corridor should ultimately develop beyond a transit route into a development corridor, supporting regional trade, investment, industrial centres and value chains.

The economic dimension of EU-Azerbaijan relations was further examined by Aykhan Gadashov, Head of Azexport at the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication. He noted that the EU accounted for more than $10 billion, or 53 percent, of Azerbaijan’s exports during the first seven months of 2026, demonstrating the depth of the existing trade relationship.

At the same time, Gadashov highlighted significant opportunities to expand non-energy exports to European markets.

The discussions concluded with a question-and-answer session.