European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is embarking on a strategic visit to the South Caucasus this week to build on the EU’s engagement in the historic peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the opportunities ahead.
In Yerevan and Baku, von der Leyen is set to convey Brussels' desire to strengthen energy cooperation, trade and regional connectivity for the EU economies as well as show support for Armenia in the face of Russia’s economic onslaught due to Yerevan’s cautious pro-West pivot.
The head of the EU executive will visit Baku on Wednesday for talks with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, and then Yerevan on Thursday to meet re-elected Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, to further develop the EU’s strategic engagement with the two former rivals in the South Caucasus.
The European Commission announced that “the visit focuses on four priorities: supporting the peace process after last year's initialling of the historic peace agreement, improving connectivity across the region and with Europe and Central Asia, deepening our economic partnership with the South Caucasus, and supporting Armenia in the face of Russian economic coercion.”
Energy and infrastructure on the agenda in Baku
