Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed serious concern over several provisions in the “EU–Armenia Strategic Agenda for Partnership,” signed on 2 December 2025 in Brussels following the Partnership Council meeting. According to Baku, parts of the document distort post-conflict realities and may negatively impact the peace process.
One of the main points of contention is the reference to the “forced displacement of Karabakh Armenians.” Azerbaijan notes that the individuals in question left the region voluntarily after declining the proposed reintegration process, and says their classification as “refugees” reflects political bias.
The document also calls for the “full and immediate implementation” of relevant International Court of Justice rulings. Baku argues that this language reflects only Armenia’s legal claims while ignoring Azerbaijan’s own ongoing proceedings at the ICJ.
Another discrepancy, according to the ministry, concerns the issue of mutual legal claims, which the parties agreed to eliminate in the draft peace agreement initialed in August with the participation of the leaders of Azerbaijan, the United States, and Armenia. The new EU–Armenia wording, Baku says, raises doubts about Yerevan’s stated intention to achieve a lasting peace.
Azerbaijan also criticized the document’s description of individuals convicted of serious crimes as “prisoners of war,” with their release listed as a priority.
The ministry further noted that while the EU–Armenia agenda supports Armenia’s “crossroads of peace” initiative, it makes no mention of the TRIPP project — an agreement reached in Washington on 8 August and viewed by Azerbaijan as a key element of normalization.
Another point of concern is the decision to maintain the EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia. Baku recalls that the draft peace agreement includes a commitment not to allow the deployment of any foreign forces along the Armenia–Azerbaijan border.
According to the Foreign Ministry, these elements risk reintroducing aspects of the former conflict and undermining recent progress. Azerbaijan expects Armenia and the EU to reconsider the disputed provisions, while Baku, as stated, will continue to “monitor the situation closely and draw the necessary conclusions.”
