Official says early to speak about visa free regime between Azerbaijan, EU

By Azernews

Amina Nazarli

Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev, commenting on the visa regime between Azerbaijan and the European Union, said that Europe a bit simplified a visa regime for Azerbaijani citizens.

The agreements signed between the two sides so far cover both visa facilitation and readmission agreements, he told APA.     

Mammadguliyev added that the issue of visa free regime may be discussed at the monitoring committee.  “If both sides implement all assigned obligations, then the issue may be discussed in the future,” he said.

Asked about visa free regime between Azerbaijan and the EU, the deputy foreign minister noted that it is too early to speak about this.  

Earlier, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Hikmat Hajiyev said that abolition of visas for Azerbaijani citizens is one of the topics of discussions between Baku and Brussels.

Mammadguliyev added that since the negotiations began recently there is a lot work to be done.

The European Council adopted a mandate for the European Commission and the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy to negotiate, on behalf of the EU and its member states, a comprehensive agreement with Azerbaijan in November 2016.

The new agreement should replace the 1996 partnership and cooperation agreement and should better take account of the shared objectives and challenges the EU and Azerbaijan face today.

The agreement will follow the principles endorsed in the 2015 review of the European Neighborhood Policy and offer a renewed basis for political dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan.

The EU is Azerbaijan ?s biggest economic partner representing 44 percent of its total trade and providing the largest share of foreign direct investment to Azerbaijan.

The Union has repeatedly voiced support to Azerbaijan in its reform efforts, and aims at increasing networking and contacts between companies that will increase trade and economic activity even further.