European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson will host the EU-Energy Dialogue between the EU and Azerbaijan in Brussels today. Photo: Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan

European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson will host the EU-Energy Dialogue between the EU and Azerbaijan in Brussels today.

Azerbaijani’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov will attend. The two leaders previously met in Baku earlier this year, where they reaffirmed the strategic energy partnership between Azerbaijan and the EU. Both sides are expected todiscuss gas supply issues in particular, including the EU’s recent efforts to diversify energy sources and stop the import of Russian fossil fuels into the EU.

They will also cover how to continue working together on the clean energy transition, including regulations for methane emissions, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. They are also expected to discuss additional possible ways to supply Caspian gas to the EU as well as the expansion of the Southern Gas Corridor to complement efforts made by the EU.

Though the EU hopes to replace Russian fossil fuels with Azerbaijani gas and oil, the bloc’s efforts to become a power player in the war-torn South Caucasus are impeding this goal. After the EU recently dispatched a civilian mission in the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict, the bloc’s high-profile agreement with Azerbaijan—to increase its yearly gas supply to the EU to 20 billion cubic meters by 2027—is likely being thrown into doubt.