Energy & transport international relations

The “Baku Initiative” was launched on the occasion of the Energy Ministerial Conference held in Baku on 13 November 2004 with the participation of the European Commission and the Black Sea and the Caspian Littoral States and their neighbours, namely Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Iran (observer), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Russian Federation (observer), Romania, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

On this occasion, the participants agreed on their mutual interest for supporting the gradual development of regional energy markets in the Caspian Littoral States and their neighbouring countries, enhancing the attraction of funding for new infrastructures, embarking on energy efficiency policies and programmes and making progress towards a gradual integration between the respective energy markets and the EU market.

The “Baku Initiative” is aiming to facilitate the progressive integration of the energy markets of this region into the EU market as well as the transportation of the extensive Caspian oil and gas resources towards Europe, be it transiting through Russia or via other routes such as Iran and Turkey. Indeed, secure and safe export routes for Caspian oil and gas will be important for the EU’s security of energy supply by increasing the geographical diversification of the EU’s external energy supplies. Supplying the EU market at competitive international prices will also be crucial for facilitating the economic, social and political development of countries of the Caspian region.

The enhanced cooperation between the participating countries and the EU is pursued through meetings of expert working groups addressing the following issues:

facilitating the creation of harmonized hydrocarbon and electricity markets,
addressing safety and security of energy production, transportation and supplies,
pursuing sustainable development policies by addressing energy efficiency, energy saving and renewable energy issues, as well as the environmental aspects of energy production, transportation and use,
and facilitating investments in energy projects of common interest.

The INOGATE Technical Secretariat serves as a coordination mechanism for supporting the energy cooperation under the Baku Initaitive.

Official documents:

Ministerial Declaration on Enhanced energy co-operation between the EU, the Littoral States of the Black and Caspian Seas and their neighbouring countries, 30 November 2006, Astana

Energy Ministerial Conference on Energy Co-operation between the EU, the Caspian Littoral States and their neighbouring countries, 13 November 2004, Baku

Conclusions of the Baku Ministerial Conference
Concept paper
Statements by the participating countries

Website of DG of External Relations on Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Website of Inogate