Euronews: Giorgia Meloni to visit Azerbaijan to strengthen energy ties

The Prime Minister of Italy will visit Azerbaijan in the coming weeks to continue political dialogue and strengthen energy cooperation between Rome and Baku.

As BAKU.WS reports with reference to Report, this is stated in a Euronews article.

It is noted that Meloni's visit to Azerbaijan, which is expected in May-June, will be another step towards strengthening bilateral cooperation.

"Azerbaijani gas supplies through the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) remain a key pillar of relations between Rome and Baku," the article states.

TAP is part of the broader Southern Gas Corridor connecting the Caspian region with Europe.

TAP Managing Director Luca Schieppati notes that since the pipeline began commercial operations, more than 47.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas have been delivered to Italy.

"TAP has delivered 57 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe overall, contributing to the diversification of supply routes and the resilience of the European energy system," he said.

He also noted that Italy is the primary destination for Azerbaijani gas transported through TAP and a key point for further deliveries to the European market.

TAP accounted for approximately 16.5% of Italy's total gas imports in 2025. Schieppati emphasized that the foundation of the two countries' energy cooperation is the reliability of supplies.

"High-level bilateral contacts between Italy and Azerbaijan provide an opportunity to reaffirm the longstanding cooperation in the energy sector and the strategic importance of the Southern Gas Corridor," Schieppati said.

Research fellow at the Topchubashov Center think tank Simona Scotti told Euronews that the visit would be a continuation of previous bilateral and multilateral exchanges, including participation in COP29 and earlier official visits.

She added that while the agenda has not yet been confirmed, energy cooperation is likely to remain an important component of expanding ties alongside other areas of economic and political cooperation.

"Italy is currently Azerbaijan's leading trade partner, with cooperation spanning energy and expanding into sectors such as defense and aviation, reflecting a gradual diversification of bilateral ties in recent years," Scotti noted.