Azernews.Az

BAKU – A European Union mission visited Azerbaijan June 16-17 in an effort to further enhance cooperation with Azerbaijan on migration issues.

The Migration Mission composed of 10 experts was co-chaired by Hungary's Zoltan Leko and Rob Rozenburg of the European Commission.

EU-Azerbaijan cooperation in this area aims to achieve adequate management of legal migration, the effective prevention and control of illegal migration and strengthening the positive impacts of migration on development.

The start in the near future of the negotiations on visa facilitation agreements provided an additional need for this mission, the EU said.

"We consider this mission as an opportunity in the context of the increased cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan on migration in particular and on Justice and Home Affairs policy areas in general. This Mission will serve to contribute to the negotiations on Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements," said head of the European Union delegation to Azerbaijan Roland Kobia.

During the visit, the delegation met officials, representatives of the international community and non-governmental organizations dealing with migration issues. The delegation also visited the old and newly built IDPs settlements located in Baku.

Migration Missions are a key tool for enhancing the EU international cooperation and dialogue with third countries on migration matters. In addition to a dozen of missions in Africa and South America, Migration Missions took place in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine between 2008-2010.

The missions are co-chaired by the EU Presidency and the Commission and also include representatives from the EU member states.