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European Commission: â€œ2013 was a decisive year in EU-Azerbaijani bilateral relationsâ€

27 March 2014 13:50 (UTC +04:00)

The report on Azerbaijan underlines that 2013 was a decisive year in EU-Azerbaijani bilateral relations: “Azerbaijan's participation in the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, which coincided with the signing of the Visa Facilitation Agreement and the Mobility Partnership, underlined the potential to further develop EU/Azerbaijani relations.”

“Negotiations continued on the Association Agreement and on a Strategic Modernisation Partnership. On energy issues, the cooperation continued. The Strategic Energy Partnership with Azerbaijan was strengthened; steps were taken in view of the construction of the Southern Gas Corridor which should reinforce the European energy security.

However, in contrast very little progress was seen on democratic governance and human rights reform. It did not address key recommendations to bring its electoral legislation into line with OSCE/ODIHR recommendations to ensure full freedom of expression and assembly and full functioning of a civil society, nor did it amend laws on defamation and competition. On the basis of this year’s report, and with a view to the sustained implementation of the ENP Action Plan in 2014, Azerbaijan is invited to: ensure effective and comprehensive implementation of the January 2013 resolution of the PACE on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Azerbaijan; bring electoral legislation into line with OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and ensure effective implementation before the forthcoming municipal and parliamentary elections; continue the reform of the judiciary; adopt a law on defamation with the aim of decriminalising libel; step up efforts to investigate cases of harassment and murder of journalists and activists; continue the policy of economic diversification and development of the regions and other,” says the report.