The EU has repeatedly expressed its concerns about the situation of human rights in Azerbaijan, both publicly and directly with the Azerbaijani authorities, including during the meetings that President Tusk, President Juncker and HRVP Mogherini had with President Aliyev during his visit to Brussels on 6 February 2017.

The EU and Azerbaijan held on 16-17 October 2017 in Brussels the Justice, Freedom and Security, Human Rights and Democracy Subcommittee, which allowed both sides to take stock of the situation in Azerbaijan since the last Subcommittee meeting in October 2016, to assess progress made in all relevant areas and to explore ways to deepen EU-Azerbaijan cooperation. The meeting also offered the EU the opportunity to reiterate its concerns on the human rights situation in the country, including the situation of LGBTI people, and to recall the need for Azerbaijan to abide by the international commitments that it has subscribed to.