European Union foreign ministers are set to convene on July 13 to assess the progress of the EU's Black Sea region strategy one year after its launch. The meeting will prioritize discussions on security, transport connectivity, and cooperation with South Caucasus nations.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the agenda of the EU Foreign Affairs Council includes a review of the strategy's initial outcomes and an exchange of views on subsequent implementation steps. Brussels increasingly views the Black Sea region as a critical component of European security, energy resilience, and trade connectivity, particularly in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
For Azerbaijan, these discussions hold significant strategic importance. The EU identifies the South Caucasus as a vital link in the emerging transport and energy architecture connecting Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. A central focus of the strategy is the development of the Middle Corridor, which Europe views as a priority route for diversifying trade and logistics. Furthermore, the EU links long-term regional stability to a final peace settlement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, noting that such an agreement could unlock substantial opportunities for trade, investment, and transport development in the South Caucasus.
