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The Eastern Partnership policy has created a format to discuss with 6 partner countries, including Azerbaijan, the common goals to create a more stable, secure and prosperous neighborhood, EU Baku mission head Malena Mard told Trend on May 13.

“The EU believes our partnership with Azerbaijan to be of great importance,” she said. “We are keen to continue to deepening and developing our relations in many different areas in the future, including economy and trade, people to people contacts and culture just to name a few.”

The Eastern Partnership program is one of the two directions of EU neighborhood policy. It was worked out in 2004 to create stronger relations between EU and neighboring countries.

Speaking about the 65^th anniversary of the historic speech of then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman on May 9, 1950, Mard said that in this appeal, he called on the nations of Europe to unite and make war on European continent impossible.

Robert Schuman proposed in 1950 to unite the metallurgical, iron ore and coal mining industry of France and West Germany. The fulfillment of this proposal led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the precursor of the European Union. May 9, the day when Schuman put forward his proposal on behalf of the French government, is celebrated as the Europe Day, while Schuman himself is regarded as one of the founding fathers of the European Union.

Mard said that 65 years later, his message of peace and unity is as relevant as ever.

“Schuman's appeal just five years after the end of the Second World War laid the foundations of what has become the European Union,” said Mard. “Over the years our union has grown from six to twenty eight [countries] and become a very successful union in many different ways and indeed a most successful inclusive peace project.”

Every member, big and small, old and new has a seat at the table and an equal voice, she added.

“Seeking win-win situations in an institutionalized common framework built on the rule of law and fundamental rights has proven to be the right recipe for us in the European Union,” said Mard. “The EU stands ready to reach out to those who are interested in sharing our experience.”

EU urges Greece to comply with obligations

All parties to commercial projects are first of all subject to litigation rules set up by the respective project contract, Mard said commenting on the statement made by the new Greek government saying that the previously signed agreement on TAP gas pipeline is unprofitable.

As the EU is a union built on the principle of the rule of law, all member states are obliged to comply with existing rules, norms and procedures that form the legal basis of the EU, Mard said.

Mard also touched upon the issue of promotion of the agreement on the purchase of Greek DESFA gas transportation operator by Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR.

“The status in the implementation of the DESFA purchase agreement is what is called compatibility examination of the agreement with existing market rules,” she said. “This is a standard procedure and not directed against any of the parties involved in the contract.”

Mard added that in general, good progress is observed on the EU's Strategic Energy partnership with Azerbaijan to improve European energy security and the diversification of energy supplies. “The commitment to implementing the Southern Gas Corridor is of utmost importance.”

The Southern Gas Corridor will allow Europe to diversify its hydrocarbon supply sources and strengthen energy security and also will allow Azerbaijan to obtain a new market in Europe. Azerbaijani gas is designed to open the Southern Gas Corridor.

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