EU-Azerbaijan Relations

Enhancing Human Rights and Democracy within Eastern Partnership Initiatives

Author(s): Anar Mammadli
Editor(s): Iris Kempe, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Lili Di Puppo, Hans Gutbrod
Series: Caucasus Analytical Digest (CAD)
Issue: 36
Pages: 16-17
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen; Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, George Washington University
Publication Year: 2012

The European Union's initiatives in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and Eastern Partnership (EaP) program advance the EU-Azerbaijan relationship and cooperation to a new level. These initiatives create new perspectives for the European enlargement process as well as increasing trust in future cooperation on democratization and good governance between Azerbaijan and the EU. However, the European countries have significant economic, energy, and geopolitical interest in Azerbaijan, and these interests play a major role in shaping Azerbaijan's participation in the European integration process. Nevertheless, the future of these relations, including the preparation and signing of an Association Agreement within the EaP depends on the human rights and democracy situation. Therefore, the participation of Azerbaijan in the EaP provides a new opportunity for increasing international support for the development of democratic institutions in the country.

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