European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is traveling to Baku on July 18 as Europe seeks to increase natural-gas supplies from Azerbaijan in its efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy.
"Amid Russia's continued weaponisation of its energy supplies, diversification of our energy imports is a priority for the EU," the commission said on Twitter.
"President von der Leyen and [Energy] Commissioner Kadri Simson will be [...] in Azerbaijan to further strengthen the cooperation."
Reuters reported that a draft document by the commission has proposed that EU countries strike a deal with Azerbaijan to increase imports of natural gas and to support the expansion of a pipeline to help facilitate deliveries.
EU governments have already agreed on a gradual oil embargo on Russia and many European nations have expressed fears of shortages of fuel, especially later in the year when colder weather sets in.
