Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 9
By Anakhanum Khidayatova - Trend:
The EU is ready to take all efforts to help Azerbaijan in completing the country's World Trade Organization (WTO) accession process, the EU's press office told Trend Oct. 9.
The comments came with regard to prospects for Azerbaijan to become a WTO member.
The EU's press office said that in order to achieve this goal Azerbaijan needs to implement important reforms in customs and competition rules.
"The EU recognizes the work completed by Azerbaijan in the recent years toward WTO conformity and is looking forward to Azerbaijan's completion of remaining reform measures envisaged under the WTO accession procedure. These reforms cover the legal, policy, and institutional framework which bring remaining non-conforming aspects of Azerbaijan's foreign trade regime in line with the WTO agreements," said the EU's press office.
The press office added that the WTO accession procedure needs to be achieved through harmonization of Azerbaijan's laws with international standards.
There are no definitions of "developed" and "developing" countries in WTO, according to the press office.
"Members announce themselves whether they are "developed" or "developing". However, it is through the accession negotiations that members agree on specific level of commitments in each area which most appropriately reflects the individual characteristics and stage of development of any acceding economy," EU press office said.