Finance

Finance

Azerbaijan's State Commission for European Integration holds IV meeting

24 August 2013 14:39 (UTC +04:00)

The event, which was attended by representatives of appropriate structures represented in the commission, discussed the current state of relations between the EU and Azerbaijan, the prospects for cooperation and other issues.

In his speech, the Minister of Economic Development, Chairman of the State Commission Shahin Mustafayev said that one of the main directions of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy is to establish and develop a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the European Union. The basis of these relations was laid in 1996, when an agreement of partnership and cooperation was signed, and when Azerbaijan joined the European Neighbourhood Policy. The action plan adopted in 2006 as a part of this policy, the Eastern Partnership initiative, which we joined in 2009, and documents in the field of energy contributed to the further expansion of bilateral and multilateral relations with the EU. 5 visits of the President of Azerbaijan to the European Commission over the last 10 years, as well as visits of President of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission to Azerbaijan gave a strong impetus to the development of relations and encouraged equal partnership based on mutual respect.

Mustafayev noted that the EU is one of the main trade partners of Azerbaijan. To him, last year the trade turnover with the EU exceeded the share of total trade by 41%. This figure made 43.7% in Q1 of 2013. In the past 10 years, direct investments of EU countries towards the main capital and the non-oil sector in Azerbaijan amounted to 51% and 36.5%, respectively. Agreements were signed with 20 EU countries on avoidance of double taxation, with 17 EU countries on investment promotion and mutual protection, with 13 EU countries on establishment of an intergovernmental commission. The rapid development of Azerbaijan allowed investing in Europe. At present, Azerbaijan plays an important role in ensuring the energy security of Europe. The Trans-Adriatic pipeline project is a good example of our cooperation in the energy sector.

There is a wide space for dialogue about the prospects for future cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU. Regular meetings are held in the various panels and platforms of the Eastern Partnership, Cooperation Council within the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation, Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, EuroNest and other institutions. In addition, relevant government agencies are in talks with the EU in connection with the Association Agreement, Agreement on the Common Aviation Area, the document on strategic partnership for modernization, which will create new opportunities for cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev spoke about the current state of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU, the work done within the framework of the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation, the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership initiative, as well as the talks on the discussed agreements and upcoming events in this regard.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of AzerbaijanNovruz Mammadov.

During the meeting, relevant decisions were made on the Action Plan to improve the work of the State Commission for European Integration and the harmonization of Azerbaijani legislation with the European.