13th EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Committee meeting takes place in Baku

Baku/21.09.16/Turan: The 13^th meeting of the European Union (EU)-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Committee (PCC) was held in Baku on 20 September. The European Parliament (EP) delegation chaired by Sajjad Karim (ECR, UK) included Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA, FIN, co-president of EURONEST PA), Ramona Manescu (EPP, RO), Alberto Cirio (EPP, IT), Andrejs Mamikins (S&D, LV) and Iveta Grigule (ALDE, LV).

At the meetings at the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Chairman of the International and Interparliamentary Relations committee Samad Seyidov stressed the commitment of Azerbaijan to pursue cooperation with the EU. The co-chair of EU-Azerbaijan PCC and head of the EP delegation Sajjad Karim highlighted that the EU considered its relationship with Azerbaijan as a very important and mutually beneficial one. "There is substantial potential to deepen and strengthen the bilateral relationship. It is essential that the EU-Azerbaijan relationship, which has many aspects, is structured to deliver constructive progress for the people of the European Union and Azerbaijan on an equal basis", stated Karim.

The EP Delegation was received by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and also had meetings with the Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev.

The delegation also visited an EU-funded project of modernisation of public service ASAN, -reads a press release of the EU mission to Azerbaijan. -02D-