Azerbaijan backs gas pipeline for Europe

Azerbaijan has given its backing January 2011 to a plan to send 'substantial volumes' of gas to the European Union, potentially easing the bloc’s reliance on Russian supplies.

The President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed on the 13 January 2011 a Joint Declaration on gas delivery for Europe in Baku. Azerbaijan committed to supplying substantial volumes of gas over the long term to the European Union, while Europe would provide access to its market for them. The Joint Declaration was seen as an important step in the realization of the Southern Gas Corridor and the diversification of Europe's energy supplies.

Deutsche Welle, 13.1.11: EU and Azerbaijan agree on major gas deal http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14765988,00.html

Spiegel Online International, 14.1.11: EU Cuts New Gas Deal with Azerbaijan http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,739552,00.html

European Commission: Press Release: IP/11/30: Commission and Azerbaijan sign strategic gas deal http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/30&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Euractiv, 14.1.11: Barroso tops Azeri gas deal with visa facilitation http://www.euractiv.com/energy/barroso-tops-azeri-gas-deal-visa-news-501255

EEAS: Azerbaijan http://www.eeas.europa.eu/azerbaijan/index_en.htm

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