Foreign

Home page

Foreign

EU publishes annual ENP Progress Report on Azerbaijan

20 March 2013 21:26 (UTC +04:00)

It contains the country implementation on ENP policy and a set of recommendations for the future.

According to the report, 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.

The macro-economic fundamentals of the Azerbaijani economy remained largely positive but corruption continued to be an obstacle to economic diversification.

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.

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.