Azerbaijan and the European Union: new landmarks of strategic partnership in the South Caucasus–Caspian basin

Since the last enlargement of the European Union (EU) in January 2007, the South Caucasus has become a region of direct concern to the EU's strategy in its wider neighbourhood. This article 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. Keywords: European neighbourhood policy; EU-Azerbaijan relations; EU energy security