Peace efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan have opened new opportunities for regional cooperation and economic integration, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said.
She noted that the European Union strongly supports normalization efforts between the two South Caucasus countries. She also acknowledged the role of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in advancing the peace agenda.
Kos highlighted tangible changes on the ground. Borders that were previously closed, with no crossings or trade, are beginning to reopen. “It is really moving in a very short time,” she said, describing the pace of progress as significant.
Black Sea strategy aims to turn geopolitics into growth
Kos said the evolving regional dynamic forms part of the European Union’s broader connectivity agenda under its new Black Sea strategy.
“This connectivity agenda is part of the new European Black Sea strategy, one of our flagship projects,” she said.
She noted that for many years the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea were perceived as dividing lines rather than connecting bridges. “This switch in mentality is crucial,” she added.
Complex relations require broad cooperation
Highlighting the complexity of regional diplomacy, Kos said cooperation must extend across multiple formats.
Kos acknowledged that decision-making within the European Union, which comprises 27 member states, is not always straightforward. However, she said there is increasing recognition that connectivity projects in the South Caucasus could prove transformative.
TRIPP, Nakhchivan railway and infrastructure pipeline
Kos emphasized TRIPP, a 42-kilometer corridor project, as a key initiative for regional integration.
Among the initiatives under discussion is enhanced connectivity involving Nakhchivan. Kos said the European Union is discussing with Azerbaijan the launch of a feasibility study on a railway project linking the exclave.
Kos emphasized that the EU is working on compiling a pipeline of concrete projects involving Armenia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye, with priorities to be identified jointly.
According to the commissioner, the overall objective is to ensure long-term economic sustainability while fostering regional cooperation, even as new infrastructure links may introduce elements of competition.
