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EU: Azerbaijan plays an important role in the transit corridor for goods moving between Asia and Europe

08 July 2011 15:43 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Victoria Dementieva-APA. The European Commission today published a new Neighbourhood Transport Action Plan to strengthen transport links with neighbouring regions to the East and South of the EU, APA reports.
The plan proposes more than 20 concrete measures, in the short and longer term, to make transport connections smoother, safer and more reliable. At the same time, it will deepen market integration to the advantage of both the EU and its neighbouring regions. The plan was presented by Vice President Siim Kallas responsible for Transport and Commissioner Stefan FÃ¼le, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood policy.
â€œAzerbaijan is an important partner for the EU, in transport as in other important economic and social fields of activityâ€¦ Improved trade flows need improved and connected infrastructure. And connecting infrastructure means connecting people. Thatâ€™s what we intend to deliver. As a result, we hope to see more economic activity with Azerbaijan â€“ trade, tourism, transit of goods and investment.â€ - said Siim Kallas, Vice-President of the EU Commission in charge of Transport.
Kallas stressed â€œAzerbaijanâ€™s important role in the transit corridor for goods moving between Asia and Europe and are themselves a significant market placeâ€.

He pointed that EU would like to see a better level of road safety throughout the European continent: â€œFor example at present, the average annual deaths per 100,000 persons is 6.1 in the EU and 13 in Azerbaijan. Those rates are much lower in specific EU countries of similar population, like Hungary (7.4) or Sweden (2.8). The EU can help neighbouring countries make necessary transport reforms. We are ready to develop closer links with the countries that are prepared to do so.â€
EU is also exploring the possibility of negotiating an air transport agreement to create more flights per week between Baku and EU capitals, arriving at more convenient times and with tickets at lower prices.