Publication

This paper discusses the state of EU-Azerbaijan relations and energy cooperation. Among other issues, the author examines 1) the deterioration in EU-Azerbaijan relations following the breakdown in Western-Russian relations in 2014 and because of political repression in Azerbaijan itself; 2) EU-Azerbaijan energy cooperation in the construction of pipelines; 3) the impact of oil dependence on Azerbaijan and corruption in the country; 4) reasons why Azerbaijan may attempt to gain closer ties with Moscow, including the hope in Baku that this could lead to an end in the deadlock over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; and 5) what the EU can do to improve its relations with Azerbaijan.