EU official admits to visa problems
A European Union official has admitted that there
are a number of problems regarding visa-related issues between
Azerbaijan and the countries in the 27-member bloc.
The statement by Robert Soltyk, a spokesman for the European New Neighborhood Policy (ENNP), came during his meeting with the secretary-general of the Union of Azerbaijani and Turkish Businessmen (UATB) Rasad Rasullu in Brussels.
Soltyk said these visa problems included more than only the timely and swift issuing of visas.
"We are aware that there are no embassies for all EU member states in a number of countries. For instance, Azerbaijani citizens have to travel to Moscow or Georgia to obtain visas to Lithuania. Also, a slew of countries have toughened their visa procedures after acceding to the EU and the Schengen zone, which, at times, causes problems."
Soltyk said plans were in place on drafting and applying agreements for softening visa regulations in those countries participating in the Eastern Partnership program - a regional platform for closer cooperation with Europe`s eastern neighbors, including Azerbaijan. At the same time, he expressed disappointment that some EU states are opposed to simplifying visa procedures with non-EU states due to homeland security and stability considerations. Therefore, new visa proposals are often rejected by decision-making bodies.
The UATB secretary-general was in Brussels as part of a visit by a delegation of the Union of Black Sea and Caspian Confederation of Enterprises (UBSCCE).
The UBSCCE, which was one of the initiators of the UATB, was founded in Istanbul in November 2006 with the participation of 16 organizations representing entrepreneurs from 12 countries. The group currently is made up of 22 organizations from 17 states.
The Eastern Partnership initiative, proposed by Poland and Sweden, covers Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. Besides simplified visa regulations, the EU is offering free trade and closer energy cooperation to the six states, although membership in the bloc is not on the agenda at this point. The participating countries are required to bring their laws into compliance with EU standards, pursue economic reforms and support democratic development. The EU has already allotted funds of over 11 billion euros for its programs of assistance to southern and eastern neighbors from 2007-2013, with one-third of the amount to benefit the countries that will be cooperating more closely with the organization within Eastern Partnership.
Azerbaijan adopted the five-year Action Plan of the EU`s ENNP program in 2006. The document details the South Caucasus republic`s cooperation with the union and steps required for European integration.
The statement by Robert Soltyk, a spokesman for the European New Neighborhood Policy (ENNP), came during his meeting with the secretary-general of the Union of Azerbaijani and Turkish Businessmen (UATB) Rasad Rasullu in Brussels.
Soltyk said these visa problems included more than only the timely and swift issuing of visas.
"We are aware that there are no embassies for all EU member states in a number of countries. For instance, Azerbaijani citizens have to travel to Moscow or Georgia to obtain visas to Lithuania. Also, a slew of countries have toughened their visa procedures after acceding to the EU and the Schengen zone, which, at times, causes problems."
Soltyk said plans were in place on drafting and applying agreements for softening visa regulations in those countries participating in the Eastern Partnership program - a regional platform for closer cooperation with Europe`s eastern neighbors, including Azerbaijan. At the same time, he expressed disappointment that some EU states are opposed to simplifying visa procedures with non-EU states due to homeland security and stability considerations. Therefore, new visa proposals are often rejected by decision-making bodies.
The UATB secretary-general was in Brussels as part of a visit by a delegation of the Union of Black Sea and Caspian Confederation of Enterprises (UBSCCE).
The UBSCCE, which was one of the initiators of the UATB, was founded in Istanbul in November 2006 with the participation of 16 organizations representing entrepreneurs from 12 countries. The group currently is made up of 22 organizations from 17 states.
The Eastern Partnership initiative, proposed by Poland and Sweden, covers Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. Besides simplified visa regulations, the EU is offering free trade and closer energy cooperation to the six states, although membership in the bloc is not on the agenda at this point. The participating countries are required to bring their laws into compliance with EU standards, pursue economic reforms and support democratic development. The EU has already allotted funds of over 11 billion euros for its programs of assistance to southern and eastern neighbors from 2007-2013, with one-third of the amount to benefit the countries that will be cooperating more closely with the organization within Eastern Partnership.
Azerbaijan adopted the five-year Action Plan of the EU`s ENNP program in 2006. The document details the South Caucasus republic`s cooperation with the union and steps required for European integration.
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