Publication

This study examines the trends affecting EU policies in the South Caucasus, with a specific focus on EU-Azerbaijan relations. It argues that in the three main areas in which Azerbaijan affects Europe’s interests – cooperation in the energy sector, democratization and conflict resolution – so far the EU has engaged well on a regional energy strategy, but less so on democratic reforms and almost not at all on conflict settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh. The study concludes that the EU needs to balance its involvement in all three areas, especially given the deeper democratic changes it wishes to see in Azerbaijan, with a list of recommendations for doing so.