Baku, Azerbaijan, March.1
By Sabina Ahmadova - Trend:
The signature of the readmission agreement is a very concrete step forward in strengthening and deepening EU-Azerbaijani relations, Head of EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Malena Mard said, the website of the delegation reported on March 1.
"Together with the visa facilitation agreement this agreement is of great importance for both sides and will strengthen our cooperation in the field of mobilityand the fight against irregular migration," she said.
Azerbaijan and European Union have signed a readmission agreement on Feb. 28.
The document was signed from the Azerbaijani side by the Head of the Azerbaijani Mission to the EU, Ambassador, Fuad Isgandarov. And from the EU side the document was signed by the general Director-General for Home Affairs, European Commission, Stefano Manservisi. and Greek presidency of the EU, Ambassador Theodoros Sotiropoulos.
The agreement was signed in November 2013 as part of the EU summit at Vilnius. The document was signed by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, the European Commissioner Stefan Fule and Foreign Minister of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius. The European Parliament is expected to ratify the document.
The agreement on visa system simplification between Azerbaijan and the EU will take effect in autumn 2014.
This will simplify Azerbaijani citizens' trips to countries included in the Schengen zone, while also assisting EU citizens travelling to Azerbaijan. Moreover, when the agreement comes into force, it will contribute towards the development of relations between the citizens of the EU and Azerbaijan.
Translated by S.I.