BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23
By Sadraddin Aghjayev - Trend:
The EU and Azerbaijan are jointly establishing priorities for cooperation, Head of the EU delegation to Azerbaijan Kestutis Jankauskas told Trend.
“We have provided assistance across all sectors, including in the area of information technology,” Jankauskas said.
“For example, the EU4Digital Initiative is the largest regional action that is specifically focused on harmonization of digital markets across the EaP region. It is entirely EU-funded with a total budget of almost €15 million covering all six Eastern partner countries. The EU4Digital Initiative aims to foster economic development and market opportunities by eliminating existing obstacles for online services for citizens, businesses and public administrations, through the harmonisation of the digital environments throughout the Eastern partner countries and with the EU,” the head of the EU delegation said.
According to Jankauskas, with the implementation of this Initiative, the EU expects to extend the benefits of the EU’ Digital Single Market to the six Eastern partner countries.
“The Initiative addresses key policy areas such as Telecom, Trust & Security, eTrade, ICT Innovation, eHealth and eSkills. Some of the benefits will include lower roaming costs; safer, faster and cheaper electronic transactions; simpler export procedures through paperless trade and electronic logistics, which will reduce border delays, cut costs; support to ICT innovation, opening of the EU markets to start-ups from the region; support for eHealth systems, which will deliver benefits for patients; development of digital skills and others. The EU is helping to match skills with the demands of emerging sectors, contributing to jobs, private sector development, and dynamic economic growth,” the official noted.
All of these implemented, ongoing and future initiatives are for all of the people of Azerbaijan, and they are the basics, the foundation for any future work anywhere on the Azerbaijani territory, he said.
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