Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend K.Khalilova / The Azerbaijani Government has started developing an annual report on the implementation of the national action plan of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), this was confirmed at a meeting of the Council of EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation in Brussels on 14 November, the Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, Mahmoud Mammadguliyev said on 20 November.
By the end of the year the report will be presented to the EU to enable it to carry out a study.
An indicative program for 2007 is being developed for Azerbaijan within the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) program with a budget of €19mln
Under the program €5mln is allocated for a twining program and €14mln for budget support. The funds will be spent by mid-2008.
The European Commission has defined the budget for the program for 2008 in the amount of €21-22mln. At present the EU is currently discussing assistance in this direction.
A draft indicative program for Azerbaijan in 2007-2010 is under discussion with the EU. The total budget of the program is €92mln.
The priority directions of the ENP action plan for Azerbaijan, adopted in Brussels in November 2006, are the strengthening of democracy in the country, improvement of business and investment climate, support for sustainable economic development, adjusting the economic legislation and management practices, strengthening of cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan in the energy and transport sectors, regional cooperation and cooperation in border governance.
Under the ENP, the European Commission plans to provide technical aid in three priority directions - right management, democratic elections, improvement of legislation; economical reforms, financial sector, regional development; and energy, transport and infrastructure.
Since 1992 to present the EU has rendered €400mln to Azerbaijan to assist in the development of different projects.