Assita Kanko on the EU-Azerbaijan energy deal: “It is strategically important, but we must continue to focus on our own energy supply”

European Commission President Von der Leyen today concluded a strategic energy partnership with Azerbaijan for the supply of gas. Also present in this country in the Caucasus is MEP Assita Kanko, who is part of a parliamentary delegation. She defends the deal with the country, but emphasises that the EU must remain vigilant: “This is purely pragmatic policy. It is geopolitically important to make our European mark in these areas (the delegation is also going to Georgia and Armenia) and to become less dependent on Russian gas. But we must not be naive: we must continue to focus on our own energy supply, including nuclear energy.”