Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Talks on a new EU-Azerbaijan strategic agreement, targeting to replace the 1996 partnership and cooperation agreement, will be launched very soon, said Christian Danielsson.

Director General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission told APA that the Commission together with an experienced team led by the Director of the European External Action Service Devin Luke, who worked on various agreements in the area of 'Eastern Partnership', will start negations with Azerbaijan on the new agreement.

He said that the negotiations timeline will depend on the achievements and at this stage it is impossible to say when they will end.

“Our goal is to conduct effective negotiations. Our cooperation will be based on the existing "Partnership and Cooperation Agreement", but will also cover new areas,” he said.

Danielsson added that they look forward to fruitful cooperation with Azerbaijan in new spheres.

“We cherish the hope that we can reach an agreement between the parties in the sphere of trade, which would facilitate trade and cover a range of sectors,” he emphasized.

The new agreement envisages the compliance of Azerbaijan’s legislation and procedures with the EU’s most important international trade norms and standards, which should lead to the improvement of Azerbaijani goods’ access to the EU markets.

In November 2016, the European Council adopted a mandate for the European Commission and the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy to negotiate on behalf of the EU and its member states, a comprehensive agreement with Azerbaijan.

The agreement will follow the principles endorsed in the 2015 review of the European Neighborhood Policy and offer a renewed basis for political dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has become a country of direct priority to the EU’s strategy in its wider neighborhood since the last enlargement of the European Union in 2007. Azerbaijan affects Europe’s interests, mainly in a regional energy strategy.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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