European leaders praise Eastern Partnership co-op
The Azerbaijani government has said work being done as part of the
Eastern Partnership program was highly assessed during the informal
meeting of the European Union and Eastern Partnership member
countries’ foreign ministers, held Monday in the Polish city of
Sopot.
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the meeting, held in the 27+6 format, referring to the 27 EU states and six Eastern Partnership participants, was chaired by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and the European Union chairman, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos. Also in attendance was Stefan Fule, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy. Azerbaijan was represented by a delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev.
The European Commission said substantial progress was seen on an "association agreement" with Ukraine, while with Moldova, these negotiations started this February. On May 10, the EU Council on Foreign Relations endorsed guidelines for talks with the South Caucasus republics, and is expected to begin discussions with the three countries soon.
Participants exchanged views on ways of expanding Eastern Partnership, pointing to the need for increasing the package of funding for the program in the coming years. Discussions also centered on simplifying and liberalizing visa regulations, cooperation in the transport sector, preventing emergencies, etc. Attendees stressed that projects covering relevant fields have been developed and are to be implemented during the next stage.
Poland offered setting up a "friendship group" in a bid to generate more sources of funding and increase the efficiency of international cooperation. The United States, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Russia and Turkey may be offered to be part of the informal organization.
The Eastern Partnership program, launched at an EU summit held in Prague in May 2009, covers Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. The program envisages simplified visa regulations, free trade and closer energy cooperation. Membership in the bloc is not on the agenda at this point.*
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the meeting, held in the 27+6 format, referring to the 27 EU states and six Eastern Partnership participants, was chaired by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and the European Union chairman, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos. Also in attendance was Stefan Fule, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy. Azerbaijan was represented by a delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev.
The European Commission said substantial progress was seen on an "association agreement" with Ukraine, while with Moldova, these negotiations started this February. On May 10, the EU Council on Foreign Relations endorsed guidelines for talks with the South Caucasus republics, and is expected to begin discussions with the three countries soon.
Participants exchanged views on ways of expanding Eastern Partnership, pointing to the need for increasing the package of funding for the program in the coming years. Discussions also centered on simplifying and liberalizing visa regulations, cooperation in the transport sector, preventing emergencies, etc. Attendees stressed that projects covering relevant fields have been developed and are to be implemented during the next stage.
Poland offered setting up a "friendship group" in a bid to generate more sources of funding and increase the efficiency of international cooperation. The United States, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Russia and Turkey may be offered to be part of the informal organization.
The Eastern Partnership program, launched at an EU summit held in Prague in May 2009, covers Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. The program envisages simplified visa regulations, free trade and closer energy cooperation. Membership in the bloc is not on the agenda at this point.*
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