On January 30, in her interview with Report, Magdalena Grono, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, discussed her recent visits to Azerbaijan and Armenia, the EU's balanced policy in the region, and steps to enhance EU-Azerbaijan relations.

Magdalena Grono, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, completed her first official visits to Azerbaijan and Armenia in January 2025. She met with senior officials, including President Aliyev in Baku on January 8 and Prime Minister Pashinyan in Yerevan on January 9. These visits, she emphasized, were crucial in advancing peace and stability efforts in the region. Both sides expressed support for continuing the normalization process initiated in December 2023, particularly on the peace treaty and humanitarian issues. Grono encouraged the countries to maintain the momentum of their progress, ensuring a peaceful and prosperous future for the region’s populations.

The discussions focused on enhancing EU support for the normalization process, with key priorities such as border delimitation, peace treaty talks, demining, and addressing missing persons. The EU remains committed to assisting both Azerbaijan and Armenia in fostering regional cooperation, with Grono noting that the EU’s role is to provide tangible support in these areas, including facilitating bilateral talks and tackling connectivity and humanitarian concerns.

Grono also addressed criticisms of the EU’s approach toward Azerbaijan and Armenia. She stressed that the EU listens to all concerns and works to clarify any misunderstandings or misinformation. Her mission involves maintaining transparent communication with both countries, bolstered by a vast network of contacts. She emphasized that the EU’s goal is not to create dividing lines or engage in "zero-sum games" but to assist both countries in moving toward a stable, secure, and prosperous future.

When discussing her broader objectives as the EU Special Representative, Grono outlined her commitment to building on decades of experience in the South Caucasus. The region, rich in natural resources, is crucial for maintaining peace and stability. Grono reaffirmed that the EU's strategic engagement with both Azerbaijan and Armenia will continue, with a focus on facilitating the normalization process and addressing both connectivity and humanitarian issues as requested by the countries.

Grono also shared insights on the future development of Azerbaijan-EU relations. Having worked with Azerbaijani officials for nearly two decades, she emphasized the importance of continued dialogue. Her recent visit to Baku allowed her to gauge the perspectives of her Azerbaijani counterparts, and she plans to continue these discussions to foster a deeper understanding and align on the way forward for EU-Azerbaijan relations.