Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev a delegation of the Council of the European Union’s Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) on October 1 during the delegation’s visit to Azerbaijan.

The meeting covered the current state and prospects of Azerbaijan-EU relations, partnership priorities and negotiations on a new bilateral agreement. Energy and transport connectivity, climate cooperation and regional issues were also discussed.

Rafiyev highlighted the recent increase in high-level contacts between Azerbaijan and the EU and the expansion of cooperation in energy, trade and connectivity.

The Middle Corridor received particular attention. Rafiyev presented Azerbaijan’s efforts to develop its transport and logistics infrastructure, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the Port of Baku and projects being implemented in the territories under Azerbaijani control following the 2020 war.

The sides also discussed energy cooperation, including Azerbaijan’s contribution to European energy security, prospects for expanding natural gas supplies and renewable energy projects.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan reconciliation process was another subject of the meeting. Rafiyev provided an update on developments since the Washington summit, Azerbaijan’s peace agenda and measures aimed at building confidence between the two countries.

The visiting delegation raised a number of questions during the meeting, which the Azerbaijani side addressed.