Foreign

Home page

Foreign

Commissioner for Energy at the European Commission: â€œAzerbaijan is a key player of the projectâ€

12 December 2008 09:53 (UTC +04:00)

- Which questions did you discuss during your last visit to Azerbaijan? Is there any progress on Nabucco project? How many countries will be involved in realization of Nabucco project?

During the visit to Azerbaijan I had the opportunity of discussing with President Aliyev the developments of the Southern Corridor and the possibility for Azerbaijan to export its gas to the European Markets. The Nabucco project is advancing as planned. At the beginning of next year there will be a try to sign an intergovernmental agreement to establish the transit conditions for Nabucco. The five countries that Nabucco is going to cross will participate in the conference.

- At which stage is Nabucco project?

As I was telling you before, we expect that an intergovernmental agreement could be signed at the beginning of next year, but invitations have not yet been issued. Azerbaijan is a key player of the project so I would see as a positive element the presence of a representative of Azerbaijan in the ceremony of signature of the agreement.

- On December 3, European Commission viewed Eastern Partnership proposals. One point of the proposals includes Â«energy cooperationÂ» between EU and Azerbaijan. And what does this cooperation envisage?

The Commission has proposed an ambitious initiative to strengthen the relations with partner countries in our Eastern neighbourhood. This initiative, which will mean a real step change in our relations, has bilateral and multilateral aspects. On the bilateral level, strengthening of energy security in the partner country itself and towards the European Union is one of the areas which will be developed further. At the multilateral level, platforms for exchange of experience and best practices among partner countries will be established. One of these platforms will be dedicated to energy questions, including the interlinking of energy markets among partner countries. The Commission proposal is currently under discussion with the EU Member States and we hope to be able to officially launch it at a Summit meeting next spring.