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Head of Azerbaijani mission to European Union, ambassador Emin Eyyubov: â€œNew EU Visa Code does not envisage special changes for Azerbaijani citizensâ€ â€“ INTERVIEW

07 April 2010 12:34 (UTC +04:00)

-How do you assess the relations between Azerbaijan and European Union?

-After Azerbaijan restored its independence, integration into Europe became one of the priorities of the countryâ€™s foreign policy. In this regard Azerbaijan has always supported development of the partnership with the European Union, EUâ€™s support for the reforms carried out in the country, deepening of economic and commercial cooperation with the EU, simplification of the visa regime, dialogue on political and security issues.

For a long time Azerbaijan has been actively participating in the European Neighborhood Policy and is successfully implementing the Action Plan adopted within this framework. In 2009 our country joined EU Eastern Partnership and is developing cooperation with EU within this framework. Continuous meetings of EU and partner countries are held within the framework of four platforms on Eastern Partnership multilateral dimension, cooperation projects are discussed. Of course, from the very beginning Azerbaijan expressed its protest against Armeniaâ€™s participation in the Eastern Partnership multilateral dimension, as this country occupied our territories. Generally I it should be noted that Azerbaijan supports the development of the cooperation with EU within the framework of Eastern Partnership.

EU high officialsâ€™ planned visits to Azerbaijan also demonstrate the importance attached to Azerbaijan. EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule and EU Commissioner for Energy GÃ¼nther Oettinger will visit Azerbaijan in April this year. Several more high-level visits from EU will be paid to Azerbaijan within a year.

-Since last December Azerbaijan and EU have been holding talks on the level of experts for the simplification of visas within the framework of Eastern Partnership program. What can you say about the stage of the talks?

-Eastern Partnership Joint Declaration adopted in Prague on May 7, 2009, envisages visa liberalization between EU and partner countries. It requires progress in the simplification of visa with these countries. Azerbaijan and EU are working to establish a subcommittee on new Justice, Freedom, Security, Human Rights and Democracy. Technical meeting on the establishment of this subcommittee was held in December, 2009. European Commission will conduct a workshop on migration and visa issues for Azerbaijanâ€™s related bodies in June this year. Documents necessary for the establishment of the subcommittee have already been coordinated with the EU, and we hope the first meeting of the subcommittee will be held by the year-end.

-When are Azerbaijan and the European Union expected to sign Eastern Partnership Associative Agreement?

-EU foreign ministers passed principal decision at their Brussels meeting on September 15, 2009 to reach Associative Agreement between the European Union and Azerbaijan. The EU foreign ministers made relevant recommendations to the European Commission to draw up necessary directive for the negotiations on the Associative Agreement. The negotiations will begin as the EU countries approve the document. The Associative Agreement will replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed in 1996 and came into effect in 1999. Ii will be new legal basis for the Azerbaijan-EU partnership.

-On April 5, a new code comes into effect for short stay visas in Europe. What does it consider?

-The new rules donâ€™t envisage special changes for the citizens of Azerbaijan. It will be short stay visas for the Schengen states which covers 90 days within any 180 days. The new code will increase transparency of the Schengen visa process simplifying it and implement simple standard procedure. The consulates are bound to decide on visa-granting within 15 days since the day of application. The EU visa code now makes it mandatory for the first time to report on the reason for rejecting a request for a visa, and provides for appealing against a negative decision. A three-month Schengen visa will now cost 60 Euros, and 36 Euros for children from 6 to 12.