11 minute read
Member of the European Parliament Tomasz Froelich (Europe of Sovereign Nations Group, AfD - Germany) has said that the European Union ought to stand with the Armenian people not only in words, but through real actions.
In an interview with Armenpress, the MEP said that as a result of its misguided energy policy, the European Union has become dependent on Azerbaijani gas, which has limited the EU’s ability to fully support Armenia and exert pressure on Azerbaijan.
Froelich highlighted the role of Turkey, which continues to be an important country for the European Union. According to him, any EU action against Azerbaijan would provoke Turkey’s opposition, which is undesirable for the EU.
He expressed the view that the EU’s foreign policy is influenced from outside and that Europe is not fully sovereign. He argued that the EU must first diversify its relationships, restore its sovereignty and independence, and reduce its dependence on Azerbaijani gas. Only then will it be able to play a meaningful role in diplomacy and peacebuilding.
Armenpress: Several Armenian servicemen, civilians, and former political and military leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh have been illegally detained in Azerbaijan for two years. You’re the coordinator of the Human Rights Subcommittee and a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. How do you assess these committees' engagement for such an urgent humanitarian issue? Why are there no targeted measures to make a change?
Froelich: I think the problem there is that there’s a dilemma for the European Union. On one hand, the European Union teaches the whole world about its values. On the other hand, it fails when it comes to implementing these values — and there is a lot of hypocrisy in this game. Especially when it comes to Armenia.
I’m not the person who likes to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries — I’m not that guy. I think the problem of the West is that we try to impose our values on the whole world, and we fail because people don’t want to be taught by us. But when it comes to Armenia, I think we have a moral duty. Armenia is one of the oldest nations — you know the cultural heritage better than me. You were the first country to adopt Christianity. So for us, it’s a moral duty to support your country, especially in the conflict with Azerbaijan, where Christians are persecuted and Christian cultural heritage is being destroyed in Nagorno-Karabakh.
So, I think we have a moral duty to interfere in this way. We adopted a resolution a few months ago on Armenia, sending a clear signal of solidarity with the Armenian people. And as you mentioned, the central point of this resolution was the demand for the immediate release of the 23 hostages unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan.
We have to act. The problem is that, of course, we should help your people and do everything to release these 23 hostages — but on the other hand, we are dependent on Azerbaijani gas. I’m not here to tell you nice stories; the problem is real. Our dependency on Azerbaijani gas is the result of a wrong energy policy.
Armenpress: Exactly. In one of your interviews, you mentioned that Armenia’s membership in the EU is unrealistic, conditioned by the role of Azerbaijan. You highlighted the increasing role of Azerbaijan in Brussels, especially after replacing Russia with Baku for energy supplies. The democracy and human rights situation in this country are very obvious, without any detailed observation needed. How do you explain the EU’s double-standard game?
Froelich: It’s a structural dilemma for the European Union. As I said, they preach democracy and human rights all the time, but in fact they side with authoritarian regimes. Azerbaijan is an authoritarian regime — we don’t need to lie about it.
This shows that the EU’s approach is failing. I would prefer if the EU simply said, “We care about our interests, not human rights.” That would at least be honest — realpolitik. But if you preach human rights and democratic values, and then take bribes or propaganda from authoritarian regimes like Azerbaijan, you are a hypocrite. And this is the problem of the European Union’s establishment — sorry to say it harshly, but it’s a bunch of hypocrites.
Armenpress: It’s also a question of credibility.
Froelich: Exactly. It’s a question of credibility, and we’re losing it. Of course, we can adopt ten resolutions saying, “We stand with the Armenian people, we defend Christian heritage, we demand the release of hostages,” but if we don’t take real action, it’s meaningless.
The EU should stand with the Armenian people not only in words, but through real actions. Unfortunately, outside the European Parliament, the EU does a lot of talking but very little doing — that’s the problem.
Armenpress: The EU often struggles to act with one voice in the South Caucasus. What would you change in the EU’s foreign-policy toolbox to make it faster and more credible — more special envoys, stricter conditionality, or greater use of the European Peace Facility?
Froelich: This is a very difficult question. My party supports the people of Armenia, but at the same time we must deal with realpolitik. As I said, we depend on Azerbaijani gas. We need to diversify our energy sources, but that cannot happen overnight. Right now, we’ve replaced Russian gas with Azerbaijani gas — so we’re just shifting dependency.
First, we must diversify our energy supply. Once we are less dependent on Azerbaijan, we can start to apply pressure. At the moment, we simply don’t have the tools to do so.
We also depend heavily on Turkey. Our relations with Turkey are complicated, but Turkey remains a bridge between Europe and Asia — vital for trade. If we act strongly against Baku, Ankara will react. That’s the dilemma. We must first diversify trade and energy; only then will we have the freedom to pressure Azerbaijan’s authorities.
For now, Europe has no real power — we can adopt resolutions, but they change nothing because we lack leverage. It’s a structural problem — a lack of political strength and independence.
Armenpress: Talking about Turkey — you are the shadow rapporteur on Türkiye, a country that is a NATO ally with decisive influence in the South Caucasus. Where do you see constructive EU–Turkey coordination helping peace, and where should the EU draw firm lines?
Froelich: That’s another difficult question. Turkey and Azerbaijan have strong relations. And as I said, we currently have no tools to pressure Ankara or Baku.
Turkey is an indispensable factor in any European South Caucasus policy — that’s a fact. But it also creates a foreign policy dilemma. Turkey is a NATO member, and although the EU accession process is frozen, we still have strong economic ties. Any EU initiative perceived as anti-Azerbaijani will provoke a reaction from Ankara.
We must also remember the presence of other regional powers — Iran and Russia. For example, the new discussions about the so-called Zangezur Corridor are a concern for Iran, which has traditionally had good relations with Armenia. These geopolitical shifts could bring both opportunities and problems in the future.
Armenpress: And last but not least, Berlin is pivotal in the Armenia–Azerbaijan track. What should Germany do differently — more visible mediation, clearer red lines on human rights, or confidence-building support?
Froelich: For my party, our sympathies clearly lie with Armenia — a great country with rich culture and Christian heritage. But as a German party, our capacity for action is limited.
Russia failed to fulfill its obligations to Armenia. I’m often accused of being pro-Russian, but I’m not — I’m pro-German. However, we must return to a rational policy towards Russia and also respect Iran as a regional power to conduct serious diplomacy.
Our foreign policy is now driven by external forces; Europe is no longer truly sovereign. We need to diversify — in energy, in diplomacy, and in our alliances. Only then can we act as a credible mediator in this conflict.
For now, unfortunately, Europe is too weak. We must regain independence, reduce dependence on Azerbaijani gas, and only then can we play a real role in diplomacy and peacebuilding.
Armenpress: Thank you very much for your contribution.
Froelich: Thank you very much.