Azerbaijan and EU discuss expansion of Caspian-Black Sea-Europe green energy corridor

Azerbaijan and the European Union have deepened discussions on the development of the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe green energy corridor, a strategic project set to enhance energy connectivity and diversify supply routes between Central Asia and Europe.

A key meeting between Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, and Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), took place to advance energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union.

According to the Ministry of Energy, discussions focused on the growing energy partnership and the significant increase - over 57% - in Azerbaijani gas exports to the EU from 2021 to 2024. The two sides emphasized the importance of continued investment and long-term agreements to expand the Southern Gas Corridor and ensure a stable increase in gas supply volumes. The EU’s evolving stance on financing gas infrastructure projects was also reviewed.

A central topic of the meeting was the Caspian-Black Sea-Europe green energy corridor, a priority initiative that aims to bolster the flow of energy and electricity between the region and the EU. Koopman highlighted the EU’s strong interest in this project, especially in the context of the Central Corridor, which connects Central Asia to Europe through Azerbaijan.

The project is currently undergoing a feasibility study, with efforts underway to include it in the Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E). Discussions also covered the integration of a fiber-optic component alongside power infrastructure and the potential for large-scale green energy exports in future phases.

Minister Shahbazov stressed the corridor’s potential to serve as a bridge between Europe and Central Asia, facilitating the transmission of significant volumes of energy resources - particularly from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan - to European markets. This, he noted, would significantly contribute to the diversification of regional energy supply routes.

The two sides also exchanged views on holding the third Azerbaijan-EU Energy Dialogue, aiming to strengthen strategic cooperation and align mutual priorities in the energy sector.

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