agriculture and rural development · ministry of agriculture. the main focus ... the agricultural...

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Landmark III, 11th floor, 90 A, Nizami Str, AZ1000, Baku, Azerbaijan Tel: (+994 12) 497 20 63 Fax: (+994 12) 497 20 69

Website: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/azerbaijan

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

On 19 July the EU Delegation presented the findings from four agricultural value-chain analyses (berries, wine, silk, and tea) in the framework of the donor coordination meeting held at the Ministry of Agriculture. The main focus of the meeting was to better coordinate the work on different value-chains and related aspects such as advisory services and access to finance.

The EU Twinning Project "Support to the State Veterinary Control Service (SVCS) in Strengthening the Epidemiological Surveillance System in Azerbaijan" (budget 1,020,000 EUR) has been officially launched on September 2 at the State Veterinary Control Service under the Ministry of Agriculture.

The project aims to strengthen the capacity of the SVCS to protect animal and human health and contribute to the economic growth of the agricultural sector and improvement of the food safety situation in Azerbaijan.

EU DELEGATION NEWSLETTER MAY - OCTOBER 2016

EU-FUNDED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS IN AZERBAIJAN

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The financial literacy trainings within the framework of Azerbaijan Agricultural Finance Facility – AZAFF were organized in Gobustan District Department of Ministry of Agriculture and Beylagan region on July 29 and September 9. Importance of planning, farm accountancy and bookkeeping in agriculture, basic characteristics of savings and loan products, roles and working principles of financial institutions, alternative financing options for farmers, tips for establishing a long-term and sustainable relationship with financial institutions, financial projections, need for external funding and timing, estimation of future cash flow and profitability (overall and per activity) were the main topics covered in the financial literacy training.

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EDUCATION

On 1 June a group of representatives of the EU Delegation, British Council, German GIZ and Swiss Cooperation, together with representatives of the Ministry of Education, visited a number of vocational education and training (VET) establishments in Baku. The intention was to get a common understanding of the situation in the sector and its needs in order to facilitate the joint preparation of new VET projects in Azerbaijan.

Between 31 May-10 June the Centre of Excellence in EU Studies organized the 2nd EU Summer School at ADA University. Distinguished scholars and experts discussed topics within their respective fields, setting the stage for insightful and rewarding in-class debates. Focus areas of the summer school were: EU History, EU Institutions and Member states, EU-Azerbaijan Relations, EU Law, EU Foreign and Migration Policies, etc. 40 participants from Azerbaijan, Belgium, Vietnam, Georgia, Poland, Kuwait, Turkey, India, France, Greece, Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina attended the School.

The “International Summer School on Migration” was organised in Gakh from 26 June to 2 July by the EU-funded MOBILAZE project, implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development. The lecturers were representing the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, the universities of Maastricht, Cambridge, Sorbonne, Vilnius, as well as Baku and Tbilisi State Universities. Around 50 students of media studies, international law, economy, international relations and social and political

sciences from Georgia and Azerbaijan took part in the Summer School.

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The EU Delegation jointly with the EU-funded OPEN Neighbourhood Programme held the first edition of the EuroSchool in Gabala from 19 - 22 August. Fifteen young Azerbaijani participants aged 18-25 gathered to increase their understanding of the European Union in an interactive learning environment, as well as to engage in a direct dialogue on current

challenges and opportunities, including education for youth in the European Union. Five international trainers introduced participants to the EU, the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Eastern Partnership initiative and other topics. The visit to vocational education and training schools (VET) in Ismayilli, Gabala, Mingecevir, Jevlakh, and Goychay took place at the end of September by a mission to for EU+ partners supporting VET in Azerbaijan (EU Delegation, DG NEAR, European Training Foundation, Swiss Cooperation Office, British Council, GIZ and Norwegian Embassy). The mission was joined by representatives of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour. Several VET schools and VET lyceums operating under the Ministry of Education, several VET centres/employment services under the Ministry of Labour, the College of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, local branches of several line ministries, private companies, and a group of young people were visited. The main focus was on how VET schools could better address skills mismatch in the sectors of agriculture, light industry, and tourism.

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JUSTICE

On 28 April a kick off meeting of the EU funded Twinning Project “Support to Strengthening of Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Azerbaijan” took place. The project will support the capacity building of the Ombudsman Institution and its regional centres to ensure the implementation of its mandate related to the National Preventive Mechanism, Rights of Child, Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Human Rights

of Older People and Right to Access to Information. On 11 May the EU funded project “Enabling civil society to play a greater role in advancing gender equality and women’s rights” (budget EUR 444,000) implemented by UNDP was launched. The project aims to increase the role of the civil society in advancing women’s rights and promote rural women’s economic and social participation. The two-year project will be jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, and Women’s Association for Rational Development. The new project will focus on Sabirabad, Neftchala, Bilasuvar and Baku regions. The project will support the implementation of the CEDAW Convention by assisting women in selected regions of Azerbaijan to become economically and socially active and empowered. The project’s target group will be rural women, youth, local communities, and NGOs dedicated to women’s rights.

The Annual Coordination Platform on Council of Europe/EU Programmatic Cooperation Framework (PCF) 2015-2017 was organised in Baku on 12-13 October 2016. The event has helped to raise awareness of the actions and mid-term achievements of the PCF programme in Azerbaijan in the areas of human rights, justice, freedom of expression and anti-corruption presenting priority actions for next year.

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After two years of interruption, the European Union and Azerbaijan have resumed bilateral dialogue in the thematic Subcommittees under the bilateral Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. In the September 27 meeting of the Subcommittee on Trade the Azerbaijani and EU sides discussed the different trade and investment related topics as well as possibilities to start in the near future the negotiation of the trade part of the new

bilateral agreement. The fifth Subcommittee meeting on Justice, Freedom, Security and Human Rights and Democracy took place in Baku on 12-13 October. In a constructive atmosphere, the two sides exchanged on developments and prospects for cooperation on a wide range of issues, from migration, asylum, border management, rule of law and judiciary, to the broader national human rights framework freedom of association, freedom of expression, elections and electoral framework. The People to People Subcommittee followed on 14 October, where employment and social affairs, public health, training, education and youth, culture, information society, and science and technology were the subject of discussions and mutual updates. Finally, the Subcommittee on Energy, Transport and Environment is expected to meet in Baku on 14 December. The resumption of subcommittee meetings is a positive development in the overall framework of EU-Azerbaijani relations, and signals a boost in bilateral relations.

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EU4BUSINESS

On 17 May the EU Business Networking Meeting was held and the first EU Business Climate Survey on Azerbaijan was presented. EU businesses and EU Member States Embassies participated in the meeting in which opportunities and challenges of doing business in Azerbaijan were discussed.

On 18 May the Business Forum was held at ADA University. More than 500 representatives of businesses from the European Union (EU) and from Azerbaijan attended. The event was highly successful due to business interest. Similarly, the event benefitted from the presence of a range of Ministers and Deputy Ministers from the Azerbaijani government, EU Ambassadors and other interested visitors, who met and exchanged views on the business and investment climate in Azerbaijan. Thematic focus was on agriculture, transport and logistics, tourism and, more generally, on how to do business in Azerbaijan.

The EU-funded report"SME Policy Index: Eastern Partner Countries 2016 was presented to Azerbaijani SME stakeholders in a workshop on 2 March 2016. This 2016 edition takes stock of progress made in the EaP countries since 2012, including Azerbaijan. It uses an enhanced methodology to identify strengths and weaknesses in SME policies, compare performance across countries and policy areas, and measure convergence towards the policy principles of the Small Business Act for Europe. The analysis is supplemented by country-level policy recommendations and a dedicated policy roadmap to address persistent challenges since the first round of

assessment in 2012. http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/download/0315051e.pdf?expires=1478525210&id=id&accname=oid031827&checksum=82892D6EFB212C12256EBD23D8D989B6

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CAPACITY BUILDING

The launching Ceremony of the EU funded project “Support to the development of Red Bridge Border Crossing Point between Azerbaijan and Georgia” implemented by UNDP in Azerbaijan was held on 5 May. The overall objective is to expedite the movement of goods across

border between Azerbaijan and Georgia. A key focus of the project will be sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures, as these aspects are increasingly important to both countries. Project activities will be mostly carried out at Red Bridge Border Crossing Point between Georgia and Azerbaijan.

On 24th and 25th of May the TAIEX Workshop on Sea Port Operations and Management was held in Baku. The aim was to study the best practices of EU Member States and international organisations in the field of sea port operations and management of dry port and logistics, improvements in port legislation and implications for management of different ownership types. Around 40 representatives of the Baku International Sea Trade Port and key services in transport sector participated in the workshop.

Mobility Partnerships represent the framework of cooperation between the EU, EU MS and third countries in the field of migration and mobility. The Joint Declaration on a Mobility Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the EU and its participating MS was signed in December 2013. The EU-funded project MOBILAZE, the European Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development organised a one-day International Conference "Mobility Partnership in Azerbaijan" in Baku on June 23 and brought together practitioners and policymakers from Azerbaijan, project partners from the EU MSs, partner countries outside the EU (Georgia and Moldova), international actors and other stakeholders in Azerbaijan.

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The Conference on Institution Building in Azerbaijan was co-organised by the Ministry of Economy and the EU-funded “Support to Institution Building Activities in Azerbaijan (SIBA)” on 27th of May in Baku. The purpose was to inform potential beneficiary administrations and other stakeholders about the implementation of EU Institution Building Instruments such as Twinning, TAIEX, SOCIEUX and SIGMA. Since 2000, 43 Twinning

projects were implemented and 25 of them were completed successfully, 9 projects are being implemented and 9 projects are in drafting stage. 150 TAIEX events were implemented on the initiative of the Azerbaijani public institutions and also, representatives of Azerbaijani institutions attended 668 multi-country events. In total, 15 SIGMA projects were implemented in Azerbaijan and 2 SOCİEUX projects were approved. More than 70 participants from Azerbaijani Public Administrations, EU countries’ Embassies and International Organizations, and potential beneficiaries of the Institution Building Instruments attended the event. From June 27 to July 1, the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute hosted the second study visit within the Twinning project ‘Support to the State Statistical Committee in Harmonisation of the National Statistical System of the Republic of Azerbaijan in line with EU standards’. The Azerbaijani delegation was headed by the Chairman of the State Statistical Committee of Azerbaijan. A second Action plan was signed between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria within the ongoing Agreement for bilateral cooperation in the field of statistics.

East Countries Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) II Program organized a workshop for media representatives in Ismailli district on 11-14 July. The representatives of state bodies, approximately 30 journalists from the capital and regions participated in the event and were informed about main aspects of the national forest resources and policy, existing problems and challenges in the forest

management, FLEG II project activities and outcomes, and discussed ecological journalism, news on ecology and emphased an important role of media in the protection measures.

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A new e-service for the State Migration Service was officially inaugurated during a formal ceremony held at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport on 27 October. In close cooperation with ASAN, the service, which is among the results of an ongoing EU funded project, is based on a software application which simplifies the process of payment of fines imposed by the State Migration Service on foreigners leaving the country; for instance in the case of an expired visa. The automation of

the process reduces significantly the bureaucracy and increases transparency. On the occasion of this event, Ms. Malena Mard – EU Head of Delegation – hailed the cooperation between the State Migration Service and ASAN and indicated that the EU has made available 5 million euro for migration management to Azerbaijan. The project is co-funded by BP and has an overall budget of 2,6 MEURO. IOM implements the project on behalf of the European Union.

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OTHERS

Celebrating 25 years of EU- Azerbaijan partnership, on 11-12 June the Delegation organised together with EU Member States a bus tour to Ganja and Shamkir with a series of cultural events. This included a Brain Quest about the EU held among the youth, a drawing competition with 100 paintings, a concert of a German soprano music in Shamkir as well as planting 25 trees with the local authorities and EU Ambassadors symbolising the 25 years of EU-Azerbaijan partnership. Ganja Eurovillage cultural festival – a large-scale open air public event showcasing the rich cultural diversity of Europe through music, arts, pictures and information about the EU and its Member States was organised.

On 19 September the EU Delegation held a Flashmob in the Baku Boulevard to celebrate 25 Years of EU-Azerbaijan Partnership. The Chamber Orchestra and Chorus of the Baku Music Academy named after U. Hajibeyov performed the EU Anthem - Bethoven's Ode to Joy in Azerbaijani and German languages.

The 5th Eurovillage cultural festival – this year under the headline of "25 year of EU-Azerbaijan partnership" – a large-scale one day open air public event showcasing the rich cultural diversity of Europe through food (including cooking demonstrations), music (including a flash mob performing the EU anthem), dance / dance lessons, arts, EU famous stories, languages (including language lessons), theatre performance, EU knowledge quizzes, sports and much information about

EU and its Member States – took place in centre of Baku on "the boulevard" on Saturday 1 October. The Eurovillage event which was coordinated by the EUD in Baku and jointly prepared and conducted by EUD and EU MS (21 EUMS participated with tents) has become by all standards a big success. In terms of outreach the event managed to attract over 30.000 visitors – 1,5 times the number of visitors of the 2015 Eurovillage event. Eurovillage attracted a lot of attention also of social media users, including video bloggers. The event page created on the EU Delegation Facebook page reached 366,000 people.

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The main message of celebrating 25 years of EU – Azerbaijan partnership was well picked up by the singularly positive feedback received in a very wide media coverage including TV . Highlights about this year's Eurovillage event (including numerous interviews with the EU Head of Delegation) were broadcasted in a wide range of AZ radio and TV channels, while the main stage concert (and specially prepared clips on EU Azerbaijan relations) integrally broadcasted by AZ TV - a clear sign that EU-AZ relations are enjoying a more positive momentum.

For further information: please contact Jeroen Willems, Head of Cooperation in the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan: [email protected]

agriculture and rural development · ministry of agriculture. the main focus ... the agricultural...

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