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ENP COUNTRY PROGRESS REPORT 2012 - AZERBAIJAN
Premium Official News
March 20, 2013 Wednesday
The Humane Society of the United States has issued the following
news release:
The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy published on 20 March 2013 the
annual "neighbourhood package", consisting of a joint communication
("Towards a Stronger Partnership") making an assessment of the ENP
implementation in 2012, a report on the "Partnership for Democracy and
Shared prosperity" with Southern Mediterranean, an Eastern Partnership
progress report, 12 country reports (on developments in 2012 and with
a set of recommendations for the future), including one on Azerbaijan,
and a statistical annex.
Overall, despite progress compared to the past, Azerbaijan needs to
continue its efforts in order to meet its commitments on democracy,
including electoral processes, the protection of human rights and
fundamental freedoms, and the independence of the judicial system.
Negotiations on an Association Agreement gained momentum in September,
following several months of little progress. The macro-economic
fundamentals of the Azerbaijani economy remained largely positive
but corruption continued to be an obstacle to economic diversification.
Azerbaijan addressed only a few of the key recommendations contained
in the last year's ENP progress report. It started implementing the
Human Rights Action Plan, continued judicial reform and took some
steps to address the problem of demolitions and forced evictions. It
did not cooperate with rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe on political prisoners. Progress is needed also
on the other key recommendations. On the basis of this year's report
and with a view to the sustained implementation of the ENP Action
Plan in 2013, Azerbaijan is invited to:
Ensure implementation of the January 2013 resolution of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the honouring of
obligations and commitments by Azerbaijan.
Continue implementation of the Human Rights Action Plan adopted in
December 2011.
Step up efforts with Armenia to reach agreement on the Madrid
Principles, in accordance with the commitments made by the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan within the Minsk Group.
Ensure unimpeded access to representatives of the EU to Nagorno
Karabakh and surrounding regions in support of conflict transformation
activities in full complementarity with the Minsk Group activities.
Promote an environment conducive to progress in the conflict
settlement, encourage and support related peace-building activities.
Adopt the Law on Defamation which provides for the abolition of
criminal liability for defamation and insult.
Bring electoral legislation into line with the OSCE/ODIHR
recommendations and ensure effective implementation.
Continue to bring legislation on freedom of assembly, freedom of
association and freedom of the media into line with international
standards, and ensure its implementation.
Step up efforts to investigate cases of harassment against journalists
and activists.
Step up efforts to make the judiciary independent.
Address outstanding issues in public financial management, notably
on transparency and accountability in relation to the budget cycle.
Reforms initiated, carried out successfully, or delayed during
2012 in the different areas of cooperation between the EU and
Azerbaijan are described in the annual country report. Some of the
issues reported deserve special attention. Azerbaijan needs to make
significant further efforts to meet its commitments in building
deep and sustainable democracy, including electoral processes,
the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the
independence of the judicial system. Azerbaijan finalised its
second anti-corruption strategy. Citizens are asked to inform
the authorities about corruption, notably via hotlines. Corruption
continues to be the main obstacle to development of entrepreneurship
and economic diversification in Azerbaijan. Progress was noticed in
fighting against money laundering and trafficking of human beings. An
increasing number of Azerbaijani students and researchers benefited
from different European programmes in the education area. Negotiations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
regrettably slowed down in 2012.
EU-Azerbaijan - BACKGROUND
THE POLICY
The European Neighbourhood Policy governs the relations between the EU
and Azerbaijan. Since 2009 the EU implements the Eastern Partnership,
the Eastern dimension of the ENP framework, aiming at substantially
upgrading engagement with the six Eastern neighbours via:
a Bilateral track, whose objectives include the establishing of
Association Agreements with Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas,
once conditions have been met, as well as progress on visa and mobility
issues, and
a Multilateral track (i.e. intergovernmental platforms and Flagship
Initiatives).
This approach allows for gradual political association and deeper
economic integration.
FACTS AND FIGURES
1999: Entry into force of the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement.
2006: Approval of the EU-Azerbaijan Action Plan.
2006: EU-Azerbaijan Memorandum of Understanding on a strategic
partnership in the field of energy.
2009: Azerbaijan ratified the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection
and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
2009: Neighbourhood Investment Facility - Azerbaijan is eligible
for three regional projects for a total value of EUR 24 million in
support of the energy and the private sectors
2007-2010: The ENPI1 envelope for Azerbaijan stands at EUR 88 million
1010: Launch of the Association Agreement negotiations with the EU.
2011-13: The new National Indicative Programme (NIP) 2011-13 for
Azerbaijan was adopted in May 2010 and has a budget of EUR 122.5
million. The programme is geared towards supporting the achievement
of key policy objectives as outlined in the EU-Azerbaijan Action Plan
and pursues three priorities: (1) democratic structures and good
governance, (2) socio-economic reform and sustainable development,
trade and investment, regulatory approximation and reform and
(3) Partnership and Co-operation agreement and ENP Action Plan
implementation, including in the in the areas of energy security,
mobility and security.
2011: Joint EU - Azerbaijan Declaration on the Southern Gas Corridor.
For more information please visit: http://www.humanesociety.org/
From: Baghdasarian
Premium Official News
March 20, 2013 Wednesday
The Humane Society of the United States has issued the following
news release:
The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy published on 20 March 2013 the
annual "neighbourhood package", consisting of a joint communication
("Towards a Stronger Partnership") making an assessment of the ENP
implementation in 2012, a report on the "Partnership for Democracy and
Shared prosperity" with Southern Mediterranean, an Eastern Partnership
progress report, 12 country reports (on developments in 2012 and with
a set of recommendations for the future), including one on Azerbaijan,
and a statistical annex.
Overall, despite progress compared to the past, Azerbaijan needs to
continue its efforts in order to meet its commitments on democracy,
including electoral processes, the protection of human rights and
fundamental freedoms, and the independence of the judicial system.
Negotiations on an Association Agreement gained momentum in September,
following several months of little progress. The macro-economic
fundamentals of the Azerbaijani economy remained largely positive
but corruption continued to be an obstacle to economic diversification.
Azerbaijan addressed only a few of the key recommendations contained
in the last year's ENP progress report. It started implementing the
Human Rights Action Plan, continued judicial reform and took some
steps to address the problem of demolitions and forced evictions. It
did not cooperate with rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe on political prisoners. Progress is needed also
on the other key recommendations. On the basis of this year's report
and with a view to the sustained implementation of the ENP Action
Plan in 2013, Azerbaijan is invited to:
Ensure implementation of the January 2013 resolution of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the honouring of
obligations and commitments by Azerbaijan.
Continue implementation of the Human Rights Action Plan adopted in
December 2011.
Step up efforts with Armenia to reach agreement on the Madrid
Principles, in accordance with the commitments made by the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan within the Minsk Group.
Ensure unimpeded access to representatives of the EU to Nagorno
Karabakh and surrounding regions in support of conflict transformation
activities in full complementarity with the Minsk Group activities.
Promote an environment conducive to progress in the conflict
settlement, encourage and support related peace-building activities.
Adopt the Law on Defamation which provides for the abolition of
criminal liability for defamation and insult.
Bring electoral legislation into line with the OSCE/ODIHR
recommendations and ensure effective implementation.
Continue to bring legislation on freedom of assembly, freedom of
association and freedom of the media into line with international
standards, and ensure its implementation.
Step up efforts to investigate cases of harassment against journalists
and activists.
Step up efforts to make the judiciary independent.
Address outstanding issues in public financial management, notably
on transparency and accountability in relation to the budget cycle.
Reforms initiated, carried out successfully, or delayed during
2012 in the different areas of cooperation between the EU and
Azerbaijan are described in the annual country report. Some of the
issues reported deserve special attention. Azerbaijan needs to make
significant further efforts to meet its commitments in building
deep and sustainable democracy, including electoral processes,
the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the
independence of the judicial system. Azerbaijan finalised its
second anti-corruption strategy. Citizens are asked to inform
the authorities about corruption, notably via hotlines. Corruption
continues to be the main obstacle to development of entrepreneurship
and economic diversification in Azerbaijan. Progress was noticed in
fighting against money laundering and trafficking of human beings. An
increasing number of Azerbaijani students and researchers benefited
from different European programmes in the education area. Negotiations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
regrettably slowed down in 2012.
EU-Azerbaijan - BACKGROUND
THE POLICY
The European Neighbourhood Policy governs the relations between the EU
and Azerbaijan. Since 2009 the EU implements the Eastern Partnership,
the Eastern dimension of the ENP framework, aiming at substantially
upgrading engagement with the six Eastern neighbours via:
a Bilateral track, whose objectives include the establishing of
Association Agreements with Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas,
once conditions have been met, as well as progress on visa and mobility
issues, and
a Multilateral track (i.e. intergovernmental platforms and Flagship
Initiatives).
This approach allows for gradual political association and deeper
economic integration.
FACTS AND FIGURES
1999: Entry into force of the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement.
2006: Approval of the EU-Azerbaijan Action Plan.
2006: EU-Azerbaijan Memorandum of Understanding on a strategic
partnership in the field of energy.
2009: Azerbaijan ratified the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection
and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
2009: Neighbourhood Investment Facility - Azerbaijan is eligible
for three regional projects for a total value of EUR 24 million in
support of the energy and the private sectors
2007-2010: The ENPI1 envelope for Azerbaijan stands at EUR 88 million
1010: Launch of the Association Agreement negotiations with the EU.
2011-13: The new National Indicative Programme (NIP) 2011-13 for
Azerbaijan was adopted in May 2010 and has a budget of EUR 122.5
million. The programme is geared towards supporting the achievement
of key policy objectives as outlined in the EU-Azerbaijan Action Plan
and pursues three priorities: (1) democratic structures and good
governance, (2) socio-economic reform and sustainable development,
trade and investment, regulatory approximation and reform and
(3) Partnership and Co-operation agreement and ENP Action Plan
implementation, including in the in the areas of energy security,
mobility and security.
2011: Joint EU - Azerbaijan Declaration on the Southern Gas Corridor.
For more information please visit: http://www.humanesociety.org/
From: Baghdasarian