BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 30
By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:
The focus of European Commission's next generation of regional programmes will be aligned with the new reform agenda of Azerbaijan, European Commission’s (EC) Spokesperson Ana Pisonero told Trend.
Talking Azerbaijan-EU cooperation within the framework of state programs, Pisonero noted that cooperation on environment and climate goals has been strengthened through a series of regional programmes such as Water Initiative +, Shared Environmental Information System II (SEISII), EU4 Climate and EU4 Environment as well as bilateral projects, notably relating to air quality and industrial emissions.
“These initiatives assist Azerbaijan to meet its nationally determined contributions to the Paris Agreement, as well as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Azerbaijan also joined the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) in late 2019. The E5P is a €243 million multi-donor Fund aiming at encouraging municipal investments in the Eastern Partnership region to boost energy efficiency and improve the environment,” she said.
In her words, transport dialogue and cooperation are very high on the EU and Azerbaijan agenda.
“Azerbaijan benefits from a favourable location at the crossroads of transport connections linking North and South, and East and West. The most important road, railway connections, ports and airports are part of the extended indicative Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T),” she said.
“Future programmes will promote socio-economic recovery and will strengthen intra-regional cooperation (roaming, energy, digital, connectivity). Economic development will remain a priority: business environment, trade liberalization among EaP and with EU, connectivity, digital/innovation. Human development is also key for the EU: including focus on youth, education, vocational education and training, illegal migration/brain drain, culture (and creative industries),” she emphasized.
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