EU-Neighbourhood-East energy cooperation

Eastern Partnership

The Eastern Partnership is an initiative to help Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine increase economic, political, and cultural links with the EU. It includes interconnectivity (energy and transport), energy efficiency, environment and climate change in 2 out of 5 thematic cluster priorities. The Economic and Investment plan for the Eastern Partnership will mobilise a total of €2.3 billion from the EU budget in grants, blending and guarantees, to support the post-pandemic recovery and to sustainably transform the economies of the Eastern partners.

The objective of cooperation in the energy field is to support partner countries on their way towards a low-carbon economy and to increase economic and political resilience by increasing security of energy supply. The work is guided by a set of post-2020 Eastern Partnership priorities and is carried out in the multi-sectoral Eastern Partnership panel on energy, environment and climate change, as well as in specific networking groups on renewable energy, renewable gases and regulatory issues.

Eastern Partnership meetings

Meetings have been organised in the framework of the Eastern Partnership since 2010. The reports, minutes, presentations and meeting agendas are available on the Eastern partnership d o c um e nts (CIRCA BC).

Georgia

Georgia has developed a stable and reliable energy sector and has been a member of the Energy Community since 2017. However, it remains heavily dependent on imported energy. While 81% of its electricity generation comes from domestic hydropower, almost all other energy sources, including gas, oil products and coal are imported. Georgia’s energy infrastructure is not directly connected with the EU and its electricity network is currently synchronised with Russia and Azerbaijan’s electricity grids.

The first EU-Georgia High-Level energy dialogue on 16 November 2023 focused on Georgia’s ongoing alignment with EU energy legislation, the development of energy infrastructure and connectivity, and the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

On legal and policy reforms, Georgia continues to align with EU energy acquis, including the EU’s directives on energy labelling and renewable energy.

Georgia continues to pursue significant infrastructure projects to enhance regional interconnections and energy security, notably the Black Sea submarine cable project.

Azerbaijan

The EU and Azerbaijan cooperate under the Memorandum of Understanding on a strategic partnership in the field of energy, signed by Commission President von der Leyen and Azerbaijani President Aliyev in Baku on 18 July 2022, in the context of the REPowerEU plan.

The partnership aims to increase gas supply from Azerbaijan to the EU via the Southern Gas Corridor.

Gas supplies increased by more than 40% between 2021 and 2024 and may continue to increase by the end of this decade.

The partnership also involves tracking and reducing methane emissions. Azerbaijan joined the Global Methane Pledge and its oil and gas company joined the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 in 2024.

Importantly, the partnership involves promoting energy efficiency, developing renewable energy sources, and strengthening regional energy connectivity. The WindEurope business federation and the Azerbaijani Renewable Energy Agency adopted a Memorandum of Understanding in 2024.

Azerbaijani authorities are working with several countries in the region to strengthen energy connectivity through regional electricity transmission initiatives. A green energy agreement was adopted in Bucharest on 17 December 2022 by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary, in the presence of Commission President von der Leyen.

The European Commissioner for Energy and the Azerbaijani Energy Minister usually co-convene a regional ministerial meeting in Baku on an annual basis (the Southern Gas Corridor/Green Energy Advisory Council). The 2026 edition took place on 3 March.

Armenia

The EU and Armenia cooperate under the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement adopted in 2017, under which Armenia is committed to aligning with the Union acquis in the energy sector over the 2024-29 period. Together, they are also pursuing an ambitious partnership agenda to expand the scope of bilateral cooperation, including with new actions in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, grid infrastructure and cross-border interconnections.

These actions will enhance Armenia’s energy security and advance its energy transition in line with Armenia’s 2040 Energy Strategy and with the Global Pledge to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency gains worldwide by 2030.

One area of focus is nuclear safety at the existing Armenian Nuclear Power Plant in Metsamor. DG Energy, in cooperation with the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG), is closely following the implementation of recommendations from the peer-reviewed stress test, and the development of a roadmap for its timely and safe decommissioning.

EU4Energy

The second phase of the regional EU4Energy programme, running from 1 December 2022 until 30 November 2026 aims to foster the low carbon and clean energy transition in the 6 Eastern partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The implementing partners are

A third programme phase is currently under preparation for a 2026 launch.

Neighbourhood-East