EU RECOMMENDS AZERBAIJAN MORE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN BUDGET CYCLE
Azerbaijan Business Center
April 3 2013
Baku, Fineko/abc.az. ENP progress report 2012 on Azerbaijan presented
in Baku today assesses the implementation of the Action Plan within
the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP).
Presenting the document, Roland Kobia, the head of the EU Delegation to
Azerbaijan, has stated that the report allows constructive assessment
of where there is progress with implementation of obligations on the
ENP, and where the work needs to be activated.
“In this regard, Azerbaijan’s main progress in the implementation of
the ENP was associated with an active political dialogue with the EU,
which bore constructive character. The European Union would like to
ensure the expansion of the dialogue,” Kobia said.
He said that among the main positive aspects of ENP implementation in
2012 are stable macroeconomic situation in Azerbaijan, the start of
the National Action Plan on Human Rights, the continuation of legal
reform, progress in combating money laundering and trafficking,
development of partnership with the EU in the field of energy.
“At the same time there are spheres where more efforts are needed.
Among them are democratic development and human rights, the
establishment of an independent legal system, negotiations on an
association agreement with the EU, the fight against corruption (it
is still a hindrance to the diversification of Azerbaijan’s economy
and business development), the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” Kobia said.
He refrained from drawing parallels between Azerbaijan and others ENP,
participating countries, saying that the program implementation is
not a sporting event.
“Among the EU recommendations on ENP implementation this year are
to ensure implementation of the January 2013 resolution of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the honouring of
obligations and commitments by Azerbaijan; continue implementation of
the Human Rights Action Plan adopted in December 2011; step up efforts
with Armenia to reach agreement on the Madrid Principles, in accordance
with the commitments made by the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
within the Minsk Group; ensure unimpeded access to representatives
of the EU to Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding regions in support of
conflict transformation activities in full complementarity with the
Minsk Group activities; promote an environment conducive to progress in
the conflict settlement, encourage and support related peace-building
activities; adopt the Law on Defamation which provides for the
abolition of criminal liability for defamation and insult; bring
electoral legislation into line with the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations
and ensure effective implementation; continue to bring legislation
onfreedom of assembly, freedom ofassociation and freedom of the media
into line with international standards, and ensure its implementation;
step up efforts to investigate cases of harassment against journalists
and activists; step up efforts to make the judiciary independent;
address outstanding issues in public financial management, notably
on transparency and accountability in relation to the budget cycle;
implement the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan; adopt and implement
a competition law to create more predictability and transparency in
the market,” Kobia said.
He added that the recommendations set a goal to ensure further
democratic development of the country and attach stability to it and
not blacken Azerbaijan.
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