ELMIRA TALIBZADE
Doctoral student in International Relations department
of Baku State University
A BRIDGE ACROSS THE CAUCASUS: THE ROLE OF WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IN ADVANCING THE “BRUSSELS FORMAT” OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2708-065X/110/218-222
The prospects for the development of the Brussels Format largely depend on the European Union's ability to adapt its diplomatic instruments to new realities. Since the first meetings in 2021, when talks between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia were mediated by European Council President Charles Michel, more than ten key issues have been added to the agenda, ranging from unblocking transport corridors to humanitarian initiatives. Despite the slow pace of implementation, the EU continues to maintain the negotiating platform, especially after the escalation in September 2022 and the subsequent intensification of efforts in May 2023, when two consecutive meetings were held in Brussels.
The integration of economic and transport projects, including the initiative to develop the Trans-Caspian route, which has been actively discussed since 2022, could significantly contribute to the further strengthening of the format. For the EU, this aspect is particularly important given that energy supplies from Azerbaijan to Europe via the Southern Gas Corridor reached almost 12 billion cubic meters in 2023, a record high since its launch. The economic component gives Brussels the opportunity to align the negotiation process with long-term interests in energy and transport security. Expert recommendations increasingly emphasize the need to create trust-building mechanisms, including joint humanitarian projects, post-conflict rehabilitation programs, and civil society engagement. Similar measures were considered back in 2022, but have yet to receive the necessary institutionalization. Drawing on the experience of the Eastern Partnership, the EU could offer systemic funding for such initiatives through its foreign policy funds, which are estimated at €79.5 billion in the new budget cycle through 2027.
Keywords: Western European countries, South Caucasus, peace negotiation, Eastern Partnership, Karabakh War, EU, mediatory mechanisms, energy security.