Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated that regional tensions and “the destabilising actions by Russia” were also central to the Eastern Partnership Summit that took place on Wednesday, just prior to the European Council. 

“It was striking that the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan, two countries that have been in open military conflict, exchanged constructively at the Eastern Partnership summit, instead of open confrontation.

The discussion, which was more open than the diplomatic formalities that often dominate this type of meetings, confirmed that our Eastern partners have a strong demand for more cooperation and integration with the EU, and the EU is prepared to respond to this demand in a way that reaffirms its role as a significant geopolitical actor in the region. 

It was also striking that for the first time the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan, two countries that have been in open, military conflict over Nagorno Karabakh, exchanged constructive comments at the Eastern Partnership summit, instead of open confrontation. This was possible thanks to mediation efforts facilitated by President Michel, who had hosted an intense and fruitful meeting with both leaders the evening before. I welcome the outcome of that meeting, and the readiness of both sides to engage in concrete projects and ideas that could pave the way to reconciliation. This meeting highlighted the EU’s commitment to work closely with Armenia and Azerbaijan in overcoming conflict, creating cooperation and an atmosphere of trust, to build sustainable peace in the region, and the EU’s readiness to play a stronger role in the conflict resolution efforts in the South Caucasus, Borrell said.