A group of members of the European Parliament has criticized the European Parliament’s activities related to Azerbaijan, APA reports.
During yesterday’s plenary session of the European Parliament, the issue of the Azerbaijani Parliament suspending relations with the European Parliament, as well as terminating its membership in Euronest, was discussed.
Member of the European Parliament Angéline Furet described Azerbaijan’s move as a “strategic message” to the European Union. According to her, the EU’s approach to the normalization of Azerbaijan-Armenia relations has created a crisis of confidence in the region. While Brussels seeks cooperation with Baku on energy security and gas supplies, some adopted resolutions have failed to contribute to resolving the situation in the region.
The European lawmaker accused the EU of attempting to exert political and moral pressure. In her view, this approach has created a “geopolitical vacuum” instead of strengthening the European Union’s influence in the region.
Angéline Furet said that under the current circumstances, other powers have started to play a more active role. She specifically described the “Trump for Peace and International Prosperity” initiative proposed by the US administration as “an example of a realistic geopolitical approach.”
According to the MP, Washington’s initiative is aimed at establishing a transit corridor that reconciles the priorities of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The member of the European Parliament sharply criticized the EU’s South Caucasus policy, emphasizing that Brussels has been sidelined from geopolitical processes in the region.
Furet stressed that the new transit corridor supported by the US has already created a “new strategic route” in the region, and that this model has reached a level that could even be accepted by Iran, which is highly sensitive to border issues. In her opinion, this route is “peaceful in nature” and is largely being shaped under the influence of American capital.
The European lawmaker believes that the European Union has become geoeconomically isolated from the region and that the new geopolitical architecture of Central Asia is being formed without Europe’s participation. She emphasized that the initiatives proposed by Europe now resemble a “delayed reaction.”
In her speech, Angéline Furet also criticized the diplomatic activities of the European Commission. She noted that diplomacy should remain within the competence of member states, not the European Commission. The MP accused Brussels of engaging in “statement diplomacy” and trying to lecture other countries politically and morally. According to her, the European Union must accept changing political realities and return to “real politics.”
European Parliament member Cristian Terheș described Azerbaijan’s decision to suspend cooperation with the European Parliament as a serious political signal and said it was the result of mistakes made in Brussels’ South Caucasus policy.
Terheș noted that the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on Armenia in April 2026 led to an “unnecessary and inappropriate” approach targeting Azerbaijan. According to him, such steps increase tensions instead of contributing to the peace process in the region.
He stated that Azerbaijan and Armenia have taken steps toward peace and cooperation in recent years and that the European Union should adopt a more balanced approach to the process. In his opinion, the ongoing “policy of ideological condemnation” is ineffective from a foreign policy perspective.
Cristian Terheș also warned that the European Union could lose its influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia. He stressed that Azerbaijan is a strategic partner for Europe in terms of energy security and regional connectivity.
The speech described Azerbaijan as a country playing an important role in reducing Europe’s energy dependence on Russia and in providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine. It also noted that Azerbaijan is one of the main transit gateways linking Europe and Central Asia through the Middle Corridor.
Terheș called on the European Parliament to return to “realistic and mutually respectful diplomacy” and supported the restoration of dialogue with Azerbaijan.
Another MEP, Sergey Lagodinsky, said he regretted Azerbaijan’s decision to suspend relations with the European Parliament and Euronest. According to him, interparliamentary dialogue is an important platform and one of the only real opportunities for openly discussing difficult issues.
Lagodinsky noted that by participating in Euronest and regional cooperation formats, Azerbaijan could play an important role in areas such as the South Caucasus, Black Sea strategy, energy, and digital infrastructure.
MEP Tomasz Froelich delivered a harsher speech, saying that the European Union is weakening on the global stage and that Azerbaijan’s decision demonstrates this trend.
He stated that Europe is losing credibility through its “claim of moral superiority” and that real alternatives are needed in energy policy. According to the European MP, Azerbaijan is a strategic energy partner for Europe, and the deterioration of relations could harm Europe’s energy security.
He criticized selective approaches and noted that Europe should pursue a more pragmatic policy.
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