EU Bets On Turkey, Azerbaijan; Seeks Common Position On Russia

Vice-President for Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič attended the opening ceremony for the Trans-Anatolian natural gas pipeline (TANAP) with Azeri President Aliyev. On the occasion, he also met with Turkish Energy Minister Yildiz to discuss energy cooperation between Brussels and Ankara.

‘Šefčovič will attend the opening ceremony for the Trans-Anatolian natural gas pipeline (TANAP) – a symbolic laying of the pipeline to mark the start of the construction works’ reads a note released by the European Commission on Monday morning. 

TANAP’s initial capacity should be 16 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Around 37% will be delivered to Turkey and the remaining 63% to Europe.

Meanwhile, MEPs and Eastern Partnership countries’ MPs started the fourth ordinary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in Armenia. 

“The talks in Yerevan - both formal and informal - will shape the joint message that the EU and its eastern neighbours’ parliaments will send to the Riga summit in May, where historic new decisions on the region’s future are to be taken” Euronest Assembly Co-president Heidi Hautala commented in a separate press release on Monday morning. 

According to the European Parliament press office, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine are expected to take a common position on the role of Russia in Eastern Ukraine.