EU – AZERBAIJAN PRESENTATION

What is the European Union ?

27 countries

23 official languages

500 million people

Biggest trade power and

Largest development assistance provider

The EU symbols

The European flag

The European anthem L. Van Beethoven “Ode to Joy”

Europe Day, 9 May

The motto: United in diversity

EU history

• 1952 - 6 countries merge their Coal and Steel Industries under a common management • Countries decided on their own account to work together

• 1958 – European Economic Community (EEC) – same 6 countries expand their cooperation to single market and cooperation in nuclear power

• 1973 – UK, Ireland and Denmark joined

• 1980 – 1984 – Greece, Spain and Portugal

• 1995 – Sweden, Finland and Austria

• 2004 – Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Malta, Cyprus

• 2007 – Bulgaria, Romania

• 2002 – Maastricht Treaty (creation of the EU)

• 2009 – Lisbon Treaty (Strengthening of the EU external aspects)

The Single European Market: freedom of choice

Four freedoms of movement withinthe EU:

goods

services

people

capital

© G

etty

Im

ages

The Single European Market has led to:

Significant reductions in the price of most products and services

Millions of new jobs

New opportunities for the EU citizens and firms

Free movement in the European Union

Schengen regime in the EU:

No police or customs checks at borders between most EU countries

Controls strengthened at EU external borders

More cooperation between police from different EU countries

You can buy and bring back any goods for personal use when you travel between EU countries

© C

orbi

s

The Euro € – a single currency for Europeans

EU countries using the euroEU countries not using the euro

2nd largest reserve currency

Coins: one side with national symbols, one side common Notes: no national side

European Neighborhood Policy and Eastern Partnership

- 1992 – 2004 – TACIS and other instruments (Total :410 mln euros)

- From 2004 – European Neighborhood Policy (EU enlarged, Azerbaijan became border country to the EU so it gets better treatment)

- From 2008 – Eastern Partnership (closer cooperation between eastern countries and the EU). Negotiation of the Association Agreement – free trade zone/visa facilitation

EU-Azerbaijani relations: Prospects for future cooperation

Ilham Aliyev José Manuel Barroso

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan President of European Commission

Ambassador Roland KOBIAHead of EU Delegation to Azerbaijan

Further achievements

2006 Memorandum of

Understanding on Energy

EU Black Sea Synergy

South Caucasus Integrated Border Management Programme

EU Delegation to Azerbaijan in 2008

Budget Support Programmes

2007 – Energy sector – signed in December 2008. The 1st Tranche in September 2010;

2008 – Justice sector – signed in November 2009. 1st Tranche not requested yet;

2009 – Agriculture and Rural Development –signed in August 2010. 1st Tranche not requested yet;

2010 – Budget Support deferred to 2011;

2011 – Regional Development – Identification being completed;

2012 – Fiscal Policy Reform (focused on PFM). Approval by Azerbaijan pending (Nov 2010)

Twinning Programme

TwinningTwinning is the institutional building instrument: is the institutional building instrument: cooperation between public administrations of an cooperation between public administrations of an EU Member State and Azerbaijan.EU Member State and Azerbaijan.

Overall budget allocated for twinning operations is Overall budget allocated for twinning operations is 30 million EURO30 million EURO since 2006. since 2006. (2009 – 6 mln and 2010 – 7 mln). (2009 – 6 mln and 2010 – 7 mln).

Twinning is the Twinning is the most attractivemost attractive instrument by the instrument by the Government bodies and can be considered Government bodies and can be considered successful.successful.

Twinning Programme

Examples of Twinning ProjectsExamples of Twinning Projects

Milli Mejlis (Parliament) (legal approximation to the EU)Milli Mejlis (Parliament) (legal approximation to the EU)

Support to social protection policySupport to social protection policy

Support to the State Statistical CommitteeSupport to the State Statistical Committee

Support to the Ministry of Energy (MOU 2006)Support to the Ministry of Energy (MOU 2006)

Improving Food Quality and Safety Assurance for Fishery ProductsImproving Food Quality and Safety Assurance for Fishery Products

Twinning Programme

TheThe beneficiaries of the Twinning Programmebeneficiaries of the Twinning Programme::

Milli MejlisMilli Mejlis Ministry of Industry and Energy Ministry of Industry and Energy State Anti-monopoly Policy Service State Anti-monopoly Policy Service State Committee for Standardization, Metrology and PatentsState Committee for Standardization, Metrology and PatentsAnti-Corruption Department with the Prosecutor General Anti-Corruption Department with the Prosecutor General Ministry of Labour & Social Protection of PopulationMinistry of Labour & Social Protection of PopulationState Statistical CommitteeState Statistical CommitteeMinistry of TaxesMinistry of TaxesState Veterinary ServiceState Veterinary ServiceState Committee for Family, Women and Children AffairsState Committee for Family, Women and Children AffairsOffice of the OmbudsmanOffice of the OmbudsmanCopyright AgencyCopyright AgencyMinistry of EducationMinistry of EducationMinistry of FinanceMinistry of Finance……

EIDHR

Supporting democracy and the rule of law Supporting democracy and the rule of law and promoting and protecting all human and promoting and protecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms. rights and fundamental freedoms.

In In 2007-2008 : €1.5 million2007-2008 : €1.5 million and and 9 projects 9 projects. .

In In 20102010 : : €1.2 million€1.2 million, call for proposals in , call for proposals in November 2010.November 2010.

EIDHR partners are mainly civil society EIDHR partners are mainly civil society organisationsorganisations

European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)

Support to disabled children and their familiesSupport to disabled children and their families

Preparation and monitoring of 2009 and 2010 elections Preparation and monitoring of 2009 and 2010 elections and protection of election rightsand protection of election rights

Support to protection of internally displaced persons Support to protection of internally displaced persons

mobilization of media on human rights issuesmobilization of media on human rights issues

Leadership school for young women in the rural areasLeadership school for young women in the rural areas

TV and radio broadcasting monitoringTV and radio broadcasting monitoring

Legal aid to victims of trafficking in human beingsLegal aid to victims of trafficking in human beings

EIDHR Projects in AzerbaijanEIDHR Projects in Azerbaijan

Non State Actors in Development

• Poverty reduction and sustainable development (MDG) : participation to policy making process and delivery basic services to the poorest peoples.

• Azerbaijan is one of few countries selected for Country-Specific Calls for Proposals.

• NSA Specific Objective for Azerbaijan is to promote an inclusive and empowered society, to facilitate NSA and local authorities' participation in poverty reduction initiative.

In 2007 : €0.9 million for 3 projects

in 2008-2009 - €2.3 million for 8 projects

in 2010 - €0.7 million, call for proposals in 2010

NSA

NSA Projects in Azerbaijan

• Work with municipalities to improve Work with municipalities to improve social and environmental rightssocial and environmental rights• Youth employment resource centreYouth employment resource centre• Improve capability to provide safe water Improve capability to provide safe water supply Garabakh region (central supply Garabakh region (central Azerbaijan)Azerbaijan)• Support to children with special needsSupport to children with special needs• Develop cooperation between LA and Develop cooperation between LA and NSA on family support servicesNSA on family support services