Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 7 /Trend/
The European Commission has adopted a Communication on security of energy supply and international cooperation, setting out for the first time a comprehensive strategy for the EU's external relations in energy, which, in the words of Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, proposes "a coherent approach in the energy relations with third countries", European Commission said in a statement.
According to the document, a specific mandate has been requested to conduct talks with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on a Trans-Caspian gas pipeline.
In line with the Energy 2020 strategy, the strategy outlined today proposes to enhance the external dimension of EU energy policy through improving transparency among EU Member States on their energy agreements with third countries.
The strategy lists 43 concrete actions, which include notably: Energy agreements with third countries could also be negotiated at EU level where necessary to achieve the EU core objectives.
Azerbaijan, jointly with the European Union and Turkmenistan, is working on a document to develop new gas export routes, including to Turkey (the Southern Energy Corridor) and onward to Europe. It deals with preparing a political declaration and inter-governmental agreement between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.
The South Corridor is a priority EU energy project diversifying energy supply routes and sources and increasing EU energy security. The Southern Corridor includes the Nabucco gas pipeline, Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), White Stream, and ITGI (Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline).