Brussels, 23 July 2022
The delegation of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs has concluded its mission to the South Caucasus. From 19 to 22 July, they visited Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. Željana Zovko, standing rapporteur on Azerbaijan stated that she looks back at a successful mission that has shown the European Parliament’s continued support for the region’s coordination with the EU.
In Azerbaijan, the delegation has met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov. In addition, they visited the Port of Alat. During their meetings, the members discussed the recent energy cooperation agreement between Azerbaijan and the EU as well as the EU’s efforts to promote the normalisation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In Georgia meetings took place with the President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia Shalva Papuashvili. The main topic during the conversations was the recent Council conclusion opening the European perspective for Georgia. The delegation has underlined the Parliament’s support to Georgia’s membership aspirations and encouraged the political leaders to make progress on the 12 recommendations. Furthermore, the delegation also discussed the need for increased political dialogue within the country.
The delegation also visited the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia that is monitoring the security situation at the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) with South Ossetia. After a briefing by EUMM Head of Mission Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, the members attended a guided visit by Drazen Krunic to see how the ‘borderisation’ of the region negatively impacts the Georgian population in the area.
As final stop, the delegation visited Armenia, where they met with Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia and Ararat Mirzoyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Armenian lawmakers. The delegation again emphasised the need to work on the normalisation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and stressed the need to find a sustainable settlement that brings peace to the region.
