On June 6, Marijana Kujundžić, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Azerbaijan, stated that the European Union and Azerbaijan had held a productive round of negotiations this week on a new strategic partnership agreement, describing the process as a positive milestone in bilateral relations. During a meeting with the head of the Executive Authority of Ganja city, Niyazi Bayramov, Kujundžić said that the latest stage of talks marked a symbolic conclusion in the city of Ganja. "We had a very productive round of negotiations this week between the EU and Azerbaijan on a future bilateral agreement on strategic partnership. It is very symbolic that this successful stage of negotiations concludes in your city," she stated.

She emphasized that 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of EU–Azerbaijan relations, recalling that the 1996 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement remains the legal foundation of cooperation between the two sides, covering political dialogue, trade, and economic engagement. Kujundžić also stressed that the EU continues to be Azerbaijan’s largest trading partner and investor, adding that Brussels intends to further expand cooperation in the coming years. The ambassador highlighted ongoing EU-supported projects in Ganja, noting the city’s participation in international sustainability initiatives. She pointed out that Ganja joined the Global Covenant of Mayors in 2022 and became the first pilot city in Azerbaijan under the EBRD Green Cities program. She added that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has provided a €35 million loan for modernization of water supply and wastewater systems, while more than €7 million has been allocated under the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership for energy efficiency initiatives. She also noted that over 80% of the city’s street lighting system is planned for modernization.

In a separate statement the same day, Kujundžić reiterated that the EU remains Azerbaijan’s largest trading partner and investor, emphasizing that hundreds of joint projects have been implemented since the start of cooperation in 1996 across sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education, environmental protection, and business development. She described initiatives such as the "European Village" as a platform for strengthening public awareness of EU activities in the country.

She also confirmed that the EU expects to approve the text of the Partnership Priorities with Azerbaijan by the end of the year. Kujundžić stated that the draft document has been preliminarily aligned and will be submitted to Brussels for further approval, adding that negotiations on a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement are ongoing. "As with any framework agreement, this is a normal negotiation process," she said, noting that the document requires further coordination before completion.