Source: European Parliament
The Conference of the Parties (COP) Presidency traditionally rotates between regional groups of the United Nations (UN). Regional group members hold consultations to determine which country from their region would be nominated to preside the conference.
Once agreed, the country selected by the regional group sends through its regional group its nomination formally to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat.
Following that process, Azerbaijan was nominated by the Eastern European Group (EEG) during the COP28 as the President of COP29. At its final plenary, the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC endorsed Azerbaijan as President of COP29[1].
The EU is not a member of any UN regional group. As such, it did not have a role in the decision of the EEG to nominate Azerbaijan as the President of COP29.
The primary focus of COP29 held in Baku was to address the challenges of climate change. It was recalled in the statements made in September 2023 on Azerbaijan’s military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh[2] and on the displacement of people from Nagorno-Karabakh[3]. The EU is fully committed to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region through dialogue.
The EU has been actively engaged in facilitating the normalisation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, notably under the President of the European Council’s auspices.
The EU stands ready to lend its continued support, including through the new EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia and through economic support for peace dividends, in order to establish long-lasting peace to the benefit of all people in the region.