There is no need to convince anyone that a specter of uncertainty and helplessness is haunting Europe. The Old Continent is plunging ever deeper into a dead spin, filling the agenda with difficult issues. Answers come with a creak—if they come at all.
The problematic situation is aggravated by the fact that centrifugal tendencies are brewing within the European Union. These are a consequence of acute financial and economic turmoil, growing collective debt, and trade imbalances. Political disagreements among member states seriously hinder effective decision-making and timely coordination.
In short, Brussels’ position is not always taken seriously or seen as an unquestionable guide to action. Against this background, the 6th European Political Community Summit in Tirana, Albania, can rightly be described as a pivotal and fateful moment—one that must bring clarity to the future of the continent and the EU, the largest geopolitical union today.
Losing its appeal—once based mainly on economic and socio-political balance— the EU is increasingly acquiring the traits of a colossus with feet of clay.
Everyone, especially those leading political structures, understands that things cannot continue as they are. What is needed is not just reform, but rational models to address such issues as security, economic equilibrium, and intelligent global engagement. Alongside these are questions of social inequality, migration waves, ecological imbalances, and more.
In complex situations, farsighted politicians and managers tend to stimulate decisions that ensure high levels of self-organization. This does not necessarily have to emerge from the core—active players on the periphery often set the tone. And if these players are also involved in key programs, results are not far behind.
Effective integration within the Union and in its external relations can play a key role in overcoming regression. The development of EU–Azerbaijan relations has begun to generate a universal algorithm for addressing several burdensome issues that are important to Brussels. Often, something new is simply a well-forgotten old idea—and someone must take the initiative in reformatting the current order. It’s essential to remember that new systems and structures tend to arise around personalities who prefer action over talk.
In President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Tirana was preparing to receive a capable leader known for his high effectiveness. Azerbaijan’s role in its engagement with the EU has already become a full-fledged response to the challenges of trade and finance—even amid a global crisis. Baku has succeeded in re-creating a zone of predictability not only within the “Eastern Partnership” framework but in far broader dimensions.
Today, the “Eastern Partnership” is more of an abstraction than a concrete reality. Without Baku’s involvement, it could well be relegated to the past. Thanks to President Aliyev’s efforts, the program survives—and even gains momentum for future engagement.
Some time ago, it might have seemed that relations between Azerbaijan and the EU were deteriorating. There was clear injustice toward Baku’s interests from previous EU leadership. However, Azerbaijan’s firm stance led to the elimination of discrepancies and contradictions.
On the very first day of the summit, President Aliyev’s meetings with the President of the European Council, António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and other state leaders demonstrated the European elite’s strong interest in Baku as a recognized center of power. This explains the strong pull and the semantics of successful positioning.
One does not search for better when already well-off. Leaders floundering in helplessness often realize too late that they missed the moment to respond to favorable opportunities. Change doesn’t have to follow dramatic crises—it often results from constructive dialogue. Commitment to engagement, where both sides truly listen, opens new horizons of clarity. This is a well-tested instrument in Baku’s diplomatic toolkit.
The Azerbaijani leader, preaching composure and modesty, consistently shows decisiveness in action—proving that dilemmas don’t have to be tackled head-on, but through methodical and rational calculation.
Europe sees Baku as a reliable partner in the vast geopolitical landscape. In addressing complex agendas such as energy, transport, communications, and humanitarian concerns, Azerbaijan has proposed clear action plans, a complete set of priorities, and practical implementation programs.
Brussels recognizes Azerbaijan as a key player capable of opening corridors for joint initiatives in many new directions. With Baku’s evident leadership, the South Caucasus becomes the linchpin for the EU’s future programs in Central Asia, the Middle East, and other distant regions. Accordingly, Brussels must be interested in stabilizing the Caucasus and curbing any attempts to escalate tensions.
It is quite clear who is provoking renewed tensions between Baku and Yerevan. Can the inflated ambitions of certain forces—such as Emmanuel Macron—really outweigh the EU’s strategic interests in its eastern neighborhood? Hard to believe. It simply shouldn’t be.
A glance at President Aliyev’s participation in previous European Political Community summits in Prague, Granada, and Chisinau reveals how, due to powerful pro-Armenian lobbies (led by Paris), excessive bureaucratic control nullified potential cooperation opportunities.
The inability of certain European leaders and officials to adapt to new conditions hampers urgent initiatives. This is one reason why stability on the Eurasian continent has suddenly become a rare luxury. Petty interests and loyalty to narrow corporate agendas constrain potential, creating artificial barriers to EU cooperation with its partners.
The visit of Kaja Kallas to Azerbaijan ahead of the Tirana summit, followed by President Aliyev’s productive meetings with EU officials in the Albanian capital, confirms Brussels’ growing interest in Baku as a stabilizing actor in the region.
Political relations between the EU and Azerbaijan have been fully restored—despite the actions of rogue elements running counter to Brussels’ stated priorities. These “contrarians” tried to drag Armenia into the spotlight to obscure the clear picture and portray Baku negatively. And this, even though Yerevan is absent not only from the European scene but from the Caucasian one as well. It’s quite a feat to remain inactive where there are clear prospects for deep integration and potential dividends.
Paris and its toxic entourage tried to monopolize levers of influence—but miscalculated. The storm of baseless outrage against a successful country, and the media noise that followed, failed because the era of drawing dividing lines is over. States that confidently exercise their sovereign rights choose their partners themselves and break through walls of misunderstanding to build new, functional configurations from the ruins of outdated ones.
Aliyev’s policy is successfully removing artificial barriers to integration, leaving no room for detractors mired in petty bickering and intrigue. The Azerbaijani leader has launched a sequence of effective foreign policy initiatives. These meet public expectations amid complex realities, where wars and conflicts only diversify global risks.
Baku is systematically building strategic partnerships with countries in the region, with China, Central Asia, and the Far East. This does not hinder expanding ties with the EU, contributing to responsible globalization.
Azerbaijan’s role as a communicator, a constructive participant in integration, a guarantor of Europe’s energy security, and a producer, transit hub, and supplier of strategic resources enhances its geopolitical capital on a wide scale. Many actors in positive development trends are already benefiting from this.
Baku’s well-chosen course is raising Azerbaijan’s geopolitical weight as a reliable partner and established actor—embodying the image of a middle power in a changing world.
Europe’s salvation lies in its own hands. It must be selective in all matters concerning partnership with the outside world and its policy of active neighborhood engagement.
Tofig Abbasov
Translated from minval.az
