Natolin Neighbourhood Ambassadorial Talk with H.E. Ms Andrea WIKTORIN and H.E. Mr Kestutis JANKAUSKAS

On 24 February 2021, against the backdrop of the 2020 war between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorny Karabakh and its seven surrounding regions, the European Neighbourhood Policy Chair organized an online Natolin Neighbourhood Ambassadorial Talk with H.E. Ms Andrea WIKTORIN, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, and H.E. Mr Kestutis JANKAUSKAS, Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan.

"The EU and the South Caucasus through Peace and War: Whither European Neighbourhood Policy?"

The European Union and the three countries of the South Caucasus, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, are linked with each other through a complex and dense web of institutionalised relations in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the Eastern Partnership (EaP). Whereas Georgia is currently in the process of implementing the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan have been exposed to, and conditioned by, the unresolved Nagorny Karabakh conflict.

In late September 2020, the conflict erupted again and led to a full-blown war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, resulting in the Russia-brokered ceasefire agreement of 10 November 2020 and the return of the seven regions surrounding Nagorny Karabakh to Azerbaijan. What does this deal, the reordering of the geopolitical map, and the return of geopolitics to the South Caucasus mean for the EU in the South Caucasus in general and with respect to its role as a conflict manager in particular? Is there are role for the ENP and the EaP to play in times of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and beyond?

This Natolin Neighbourhood Ambassadorial Talk, moderated by Professor Tobias SCHUMACHER, offered the College of Europe community a timely opportunity to discuss with the EU’s Ambassadors to Armenia and Azerbaijan these and many more questions, shedding light on the future perspectives of an important part of the EU’s neighourhood.

The Talk took place online and was available to all current College of Europe students under the Chatham House Rule.