European leaders gathered in Dublin on Wednesday to press for deeper energy ties with Azerbaijan, a move driven by the continent’s urgent need to cut Russian gas imports. The EU has slashed Moscow’s share of its gas imports from 45% in 2021 to 12% in 2025, according to the European Commission. This shift follows Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and its use of energy supplies as a political tool. Leaders from Lithuania, Ireland, Moldova, and the Czech Republic specifically voiced interest in increased supplies, even though none of these four nations currently buy Azerbaijani gas.
Direct supply expansion
Azerbaijan already delivers natural gas to ten EU member states, including Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, and Austria. Supplies through the Southern Gas Corridor rose by more than 40% between 2021 and 2024, yet this volume remains a small fraction of the bloc’s total imports. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated his country would be "grateful if Azerbaijan could supply more gas," while also noting an agreement signed at COP31 in Antalya for a green energy corridor linking Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and Bulgaria. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda emphasized that participation by countries further from Europe is vital for a reliable supply system, referencing the TRIPP project intended to connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave via Armenia. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis argued that Prague needs as many gas sources as possible to prepare for different scenarios, underscoring the strategic value of diversification beyond existing pipelines.
Strategic autonomy and regional context
Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa recalled failed attempts around 25 years ago to advance the South Stream pipeline, claiming that failure left Europe in a worse position. He declared the Caspian region’s potential "of enormous importance" for Europe’s strategic autonomy. Moldovan President Maia Sandu said her nation worked to diversify sources over the past few years to reduce dependence on Russia, hoping for productive discussions at the summit. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin linked Azerbaijan’s involvement to broader economic security, noting it helps protect against hybrid attacks. He also mentioned productive informal meetings on normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which took place with European mediation at one of the EPC’s first meetings. These diplomatic efforts run parallel to the physical infrastructure projects, creating a dual track for stability. The focus remains on concrete supply increases rather than abstract cooperation, as leaders seek tangible alternatives to Russian fossil fuels.
