AN EVOLVING ENERGY PARTNERSHIP: THE EUROPEAN UNION AND AZERBAIJAN

Abstract

Azerbaijan is a fossil fuel exporter that the EU has paid special attention to since it began prioritizing energy security. This study analyzes the EU’s positioning of Azerbaijan within its foreign energy policy. The article presents a chronological analysis of the significant events and dynamics of the past two decades from both EU and Azerbaijan perspectives, with reference largely to official documents. The gradual rise of Azerbaijan on the EU energy agenda is attributed to the EU’s dependence on Russian fossil resources and the Russia-Ukraine energy crises. The article also focuses on the specific example of how Azerbaijan’s advantage in energy bargaining has created an exception in the EU’s normative neighborhood relations. Most recently, this energy partnership relationship has been evolving to include non-fossil resources as well.