VP/HR — Azerbaijani Laundromat

9.2.2018

Question for written answer E-000848-18
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Sven Giegold (Verts/ALE)

On 9 February 2018, the VP/HR chaired the EU‐Azerbaijan Cooperation Council with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Last year, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project revealed the ‘Azerbaijani Laundromat’, a complex money laundering operation and slush fund that handled USD 2.9 billion over a two-year period through four shell companies registered in the UK. The money was used to pay off European politicians and buy luxury goods in an attempt to launder Azerbaijan’s reputation abroad.

When meeting Mr Mammadyarov, did the VP/HR bring up the attempts of the Azerbaijani Government to unduly influence EU decision making, and, if so, with what result?

Given that the European Union’s financial interests are linked to projects involving the Azerbaijani Government such as the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), what measures will be taken to avoid undue influence on EU decision making?