AZERBAIJAN'S ENERGY SECURITY POLICY IN THE CONTEXT OF RELATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

After regaining its state independence in 1991, the Republic of Azerbaijan began to realize its sovereign rights in the economic field and conduct an independent policy. The main directions of this policy were the economic system created on the basis of different forms of ownership, the transition to the market economy and integration into the world economy. In the first years of independence, energy policy was one of the most important directions of Azerbaijan's foreign policy. There are several directions of Azerbaijan's energy policy, of which two more important ones can be specially mentioned. The first one was about ensuring Azerbaijan's own internal energy security, and the second one was about the contribution that other countries can make to ensuring energy security. From this point of view, it is of great importance to investigate the issue of creating new opportunities related to both the production of Azerbaijan's energy resources and the ways to export these resources to international markets. The scientific novelty of the research is in the deep investigation and evaluation of the energy security policy within the framework of relations with the EU, in putting forward serious proposals for the achievement of real goals of this policy, and in presenting the results based on rich facts. Azerbaijan is a reliable partner for Europe. Our approach to the issue of energy security is that energy resources should unite countries and peoples, not divide them. Energy resources should serve regional and international cooperation, not competition or conflict. The interests of suppliers, transit countries and consumers should align and lead to greater predictability and mutual benefit. This is the energy philosophy of our country.