BETA


2017/2056(INI) Negotiations on the EU-Azerbaijan Comprehensive Agreement. Recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the EEAS

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFET NICOLAI Norica (icon: ALDE ALDE) ZOVKO Željana (icon: PPE PPE), LÓPEZ Javi (icon: S&D S&D), FOTYGA Anna (icon: ECR ECR), MESZERICS Tamás (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), CASTALDO Fabio Massimo (icon: EFDD EFDD)
Committee Opinion INTA TAKKULA Hannu (icon: ALDE ALDE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 114

Events

2018/07/04
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2018/07/04
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 564 votes to 69 with 47 abstentions, a resolution containing a recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the negotiations on the EU-Azerbaijan Comprehensive Agreement.

The EU is Azerbaijan's first trading partner and its biggest export and import market, representing 48.6 % of Azerbaijan’s total trade and constituting its largest source of foreign direct investment. Azerbaijan is a strategic energy partner for the EU, allowing for a diversification of the EU’s energy sources.

Parliament stated that it favoured a deepening of relations with all Eastern Partnership members in so far as they respect these core values. In its resolution of 15 November 2017, it advocated the attractive longer-term ‘EaP+’ model, which should be open to countries that do not have an association agreement with the EU, such as Azerbaijan and could eventually lead to acceding to the customs, energy and digital unions and the Schengen area, among others.

General principles

ensure that the deepening of relations between the EU and Azerbaijan is conditional on it upholding and respecting the core values and principles of democracy and the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; ensure speedy and steady progress in the negotiations, with the objective of signing this new agreement before the next Eastern Partnership summit in 2019, in so far as the abovementioned conditions are fulfilled; actively and clearly communicate about the aims and conditionality of the new agreement and the ongoing negotiation process in order to improve transparency and public awareness

Political dialogue and regional cooperation

create an environment in which civil society can operate without undue interference, including in the reform process; provide for closer cooperation in foreign, defence and security matters so as to ensure as much convergence as possible, in particular as regards responses to global threats and challenges, including terrorism, conflict prevention, crisis management and regional cooperation; support the signing of a Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) between the EU and Azerbaijan to provide a legal and political basis for cooperation in common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions and operations; ensure that high priority is given to dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia and to enhanced EU participation in peacefully solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; put in place specific provisions to support the authorities’ important efforts in aiding the large number of refugees and internally displaced persons, and to support civilians living in conflict areas within Azerbaijan’s internationally recognised borders.

The rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms

provide support for reform of the judiciary aimed at ensuring its impartiality and independence from the executive and at strengthening the rule of law, as well as developing a strong framework for the protection of human rights, fundamental freedoms and gender equality; put in place specific provisions to support Azerbaijan in fighting terrorism, organised and economic crime, cybercrime, radicalisation, money laundering and tax evasion; back investigations into laundering schemes notably the “Laundromat” affair; ensure, before the conclusion of the negotiations, that Azerbaijan releases its political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, and seek a commitment on the part of the Azerbaijani authorities to apply the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

Trade and economic cooperation

include fair and ambitious trade and investment provisions which do not undermine EU standards, notably sanitary, phytosanitary, environmental, labour, social, gender balance and non-discrimination standards, and that ensure the recognition and protection of intellectual property rights, including geographical indications, notably for wines and spirits; put in place robust measures that would ensure rapid progress towards improving the business and investment climate in Azerbaijan.

Energy and other areas of cooperation

allow for increased cooperation in the energy sector in line with the EU’s and Azerbaijan’s strategic energy partnership, and also support the diversification of Azerbaijan’s energy mix, promoting non-carbon energy sources and preparing for the post-carbon age; support the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor after addressing the important concerns related to climate change; put in place ambitious provisions on environmental protection and climate change reduction; provide new prospects for enhanced cooperation in non-energy-related areas, in particular in the fields of education, health, transport, connectivity and tourism; enhance cooperation with regard to youth and student exchanges by strengthening existing and already successful programmes such as the ‘Young European Neighbours’ network and the ERASMUS+ programme; extend the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) to Azerbaijan.

Institutional provisions

ensure that the agreement has a robust parliamentary dimension, strengthening the current provisions and mechanisms of cooperation; allow for regular and constructive dialogue between the European Parliament and the parliament of Azerbaijan and inform Parliament at all stages of the negotiations; ensure that the new agreement is not the subject of provisional application until after the European Parliament has given its consent.

Documents
2018/07/04
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2018/05/23
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Details

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Norica NICOLAI (ALDE, RO) on a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the negotiations on the EU-Azerbaijan Comprehensive Agreement.

The EU is Azerbaijan's first trading partner and its biggest export and import market, representing 48.6 % of Azerbaijan’s total trade and constituting its largest source of foreign direct investment. Azerbaijan is a strategic energy partner for the EU, allowing for a diversification of the EU’s energy sources.

The European Parliament favours a deepening of relations with all Eastern Partnership members in so far as they respect these core values. The new agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan should advance the interests of the Union in the region as well as promote its values.

Members recommended the following to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy:

General principles

ensure that the deepening of relations between the EU and Azerbaijan is conditional on it upholding and respecting the core values and principles of democracy and the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; ensure speedy and steady progress in the negotiations, with the objective of signing this new agreement before the next Eastern Partnership summit in 2019, in so far as the abovementioned conditions are fulfilled.

Political dialogue and regional cooperation

provide for regular and in-depth political dialogue in order to encourage strong reforms aimed at bolstering institutions and developing a regulatory environment in which civil society can operate without undue interference, including in the reform process; provide for closer cooperation in foreign, defence and security matters so as to ensure as much convergence as possible, in particular as regards responses to global threats and challenges, including terrorism, conflict prevention, crisis management and regional cooperation; support the signing of a Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) between the EU and Azerbaijan to provide a legal and political basis for cooperation in common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions and operations; ensure that high priority is given to dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia and to enhanced EU participation in peacefully solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; put in place specific provisions to support the authorities’ important efforts in aiding the large number of refugees and internally displaced persons, and to support civilians living in conflict areas within Azerbaijan’s internationally recognised borders.

The rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms

provide support for reform of the judiciary aimed at ensuring its impartiality and independence from the executive and at strengthening the rule of law; put in place specific provisions to support Azerbaijan in fighting terrorism, organised and economic crime, cybercrime, radicalisation, money laundering and tax evasion; back investigations into laundering schemes notably the “Laundromat” affair.

Trade and economic cooperation

include fair and ambitious trade and investment provisions which do not undermine EU standards, notably sanitary, phytosanitary, environmental, labour, social, gender balance and non-discrimination standards, and that ensure the recognition and protection of intellectual property rights, including geographical indications, notably for wines and spirits; put in place robust measures that would ensure rapid progress towards improving the business and investment climate in Azerbaijan.

Energy and other areas of cooperation

allow for increased cooperation in the energy sector in line with the EU’s and Azerbaijan’s strategic energy partnership; support the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor after addressing the important concerns related to climate change; put in place ambitious provisions on environmental protection and climate change reduction; provide new prospects for enhanced cooperation in non-energy-related areas, in particular in the fields of education, health, transport, connectivity and tourism; enhance cooperation with regard to youth and student exchanges by strengthening existing and already successful programmes such as the ‘Young European Neighbours’ network and the ERASMUS+ programme; extend the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) to Azerbaijan.

Institutional provisions

ensure that the agreement has a robust parliamentary dimension, strengthening the current provisions and mechanisms of cooperation; allow for regular and constructive dialogue between the European Parliament and the parliament of Azerbaijan and inform Parliament at all stages of the negotiations; ensure that the new agreement is not the subject of provisional application until after the European Parliament has given its consent.

Documents
2018/05/16
   EP - Vote in committee
2018/04/13
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2018/01/24
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2017/12/19
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2017/12/04
   EP - TAKKULA Hannu (ALDE) appointed as rapporteur in INTA
2017/05/18
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2017/03/21
   EP - NICOLAI Norica (ALDE) appointed as rapporteur in AFET

Documents

Votes

A8-0185/2018 - Norica Nicolai - recommendation 04/07/2018 12:04:22.000 #

2018/07/04 Outcome: +: 564, -: 69, 0: 47
DE IT PL ES RO GB FR BE BG HU CZ PT FI SK AT NL HR LT SE DK SI LV EE MT LU IE EL ?? CY
Total
94
62
46
44
30
59
70
21
17
18
19
20
13
12
16
24
11
9
16
12
8
6
6
6
6
10
18
1
5
icon: PPE PPE
196

United Kingdom PPE

2

Lithuania PPE

1

Sweden PPE

2

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

Against (1)

3
icon: S&D S&D
181

Netherlands S&D

3

Croatia S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
62

Romania ALDE

2

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Portugal ALDE

1

Croatia ALDE

2

Denmark ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

1

Estonia ALDE

3

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
64

Italy ECR

2

Romania ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

2

Czechia ECR

1
2

Netherlands ECR

For (1)

1

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Sweden ECR

2

Denmark ECR

Against (1)

3

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1

Greece ECR

For (1)

1

Cyprus ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
47

Italy Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

France Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

6

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Hungary Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Croatia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
16

Germany NI

2

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

Abstain (2)

3

France NI

Against (1)

1

Hungary NI

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark NI

1

NI

For (1)

1
icon: EFDD EFDD
37

Germany EFDD

Abstain (1)

1

Czechia EFDD

Against (1)

1

Lithuania EFDD

For (1)

1
icon: ENF ENF
31

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

Poland ENF

2

Belgium ENF

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

4
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
45

Italy GUE/NGL

2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

4

Finland GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3

Sweden GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

4

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
AmendmentsDossier
268 2017/2056(INI)
2018/04/13 AFET 268 amendments...
source: 620.847

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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  • date: 2018-01-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE615.448&secondRef=03 title: PE615.448 committee: INTA type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2018-04-13T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE620.847 title: PE620.847 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
events
  • date: 2017-05-18T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2018-05-16T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2018-05-23T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2018-0185&language=EN title: A8-0185/2018 summary: The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted the own-initiative report by Norica NICOLAI (ALDE, RO) on a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the negotiations on the EU-Azerbaijan Comprehensive Agreement. The EU is Azerbaijan's first trading partner and its biggest export and import market, representing 48.6 % of Azerbaijan’s total trade and constituting its largest source of foreign direct investment. Azerbaijan is a strategic energy partner for the EU, allowing for a diversification of the EU’s energy sources. The European Parliament favours a deepening of relations with all Eastern Partnership members in so far as they respect these core values. The new agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan should advance the interests of the Union in the region as well as promote its values. Members recommended the following to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: General principles ensure that the deepening of relations between the EU and Azerbaijan is conditional on it upholding and respecting the core values and principles of democracy and the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; ensure speedy and steady progress in the negotiations, with the objective of signing this new agreement before the next Eastern Partnership summit in 2019, in so far as the abovementioned conditions are fulfilled. Political dialogue and regional cooperation provide for regular and in-depth political dialogue in order to encourage strong reforms aimed at bolstering institutions and developing a regulatory environment in which civil society can operate without undue interference, including in the reform process; provide for closer cooperation in foreign, defence and security matters so as to ensure as much convergence as possible, in particular as regards responses to global threats and challenges, including terrorism, conflict prevention, crisis management and regional cooperation; support the signing of a Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) between the EU and Azerbaijan to provide a legal and political basis for cooperation in common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions and operations; ensure that high priority is given to dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia and to enhanced EU participation in peacefully solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; put in place specific provisions to support the authorities’ important efforts in aiding the large number of refugees and internally displaced persons, and to support civilians living in conflict areas within Azerbaijan’s internationally recognised borders. The rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms provide support for reform of the judiciary aimed at ensuring its impartiality and independence from the executive and at strengthening the rule of law; put in place specific provisions to support Azerbaijan in fighting terrorism, organised and economic crime, cybercrime, radicalisation, money laundering and tax evasion; back investigations into laundering schemes notably the “Laundromat” affair. Trade and economic cooperation include fair and ambitious trade and investment provisions which do not undermine EU standards, notably sanitary, phytosanitary, environmental, labour, social, gender balance and non-discrimination standards, and that ensure the recognition and protection of intellectual property rights, including geographical indications, notably for wines and spirits; put in place robust measures that would ensure rapid progress towards improving the business and investment climate in Azerbaijan. Energy and other areas of cooperation allow for increased cooperation in the energy sector in line with the EU’s and Azerbaijan’s strategic energy partnership; support the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor after addressing the important concerns related to climate change; put in place ambitious provisions on environmental protection and climate change reduction; provide new prospects for enhanced cooperation in non-energy-related areas, in particular in the fields of education, health, transport, connectivity and tourism; enhance cooperation with regard to youth and student exchanges by strengthening existing and already successful programmes such as the ‘Young European Neighbours’ network and the ERASMUS+ programme; extend the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) to Azerbaijan. Institutional provisions ensure that the agreement has a robust parliamentary dimension, strengthening the current provisions and mechanisms of cooperation; allow for regular and constructive dialogue between the European Parliament and the parliament of Azerbaijan and inform Parliament at all stages of the negotiations; ensure that the new agreement is not the subject of provisional application until after the European Parliament has given its consent.
  • date: 2018-07-04T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=31139&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2018-07-04T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P8-TA-2018-0294 title: T8-0294/2018 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 564 votes to 69 with 47 abstentions, a resolution containing a recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the negotiations on the EU-Azerbaijan Comprehensive Agreement. The EU is Azerbaijan's first trading partner and its biggest export and import market, representing 48.6 % of Azerbaijan’s total trade and constituting its largest source of foreign direct investment. Azerbaijan is a strategic energy partner for the EU, allowing for a diversification of the EU’s energy sources. Parliament stated that it favoured a deepening of relations with all Eastern Partnership members in so far as they respect these core values. In its resolution of 15 November 2017, it advocated the attractive longer-term ‘EaP+’ model, which should be open to countries that do not have an association agreement with the EU, such as Azerbaijan and could eventually lead to acceding to the customs, energy and digital unions and the Schengen area, among others. General principles ensure that the deepening of relations between the EU and Azerbaijan is conditional on it upholding and respecting the core values and principles of democracy and the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; ensure speedy and steady progress in the negotiations, with the objective of signing this new agreement before the next Eastern Partnership summit in 2019, in so far as the abovementioned conditions are fulfilled; actively and clearly communicate about the aims and conditionality of the new agreement and the ongoing negotiation process in order to improve transparency and public awareness Political dialogue and regional cooperation create an environment in which civil society can operate without undue interference, including in the reform process; provide for closer cooperation in foreign, defence and security matters so as to ensure as much convergence as possible, in particular as regards responses to global threats and challenges, including terrorism, conflict prevention, crisis management and regional cooperation; support the signing of a Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) between the EU and Azerbaijan to provide a legal and political basis for cooperation in common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions and operations; ensure that high priority is given to dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia and to enhanced EU participation in peacefully solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; put in place specific provisions to support the authorities’ important efforts in aiding the large number of refugees and internally displaced persons, and to support civilians living in conflict areas within Azerbaijan’s internationally recognised borders. The rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms provide support for reform of the judiciary aimed at ensuring its impartiality and independence from the executive and at strengthening the rule of law, as well as developing a strong framework for the protection of human rights, fundamental freedoms and gender equality; put in place specific provisions to support Azerbaijan in fighting terrorism, organised and economic crime, cybercrime, radicalisation, money laundering and tax evasion; back investigations into laundering schemes notably the “Laundromat” affair; ensure, before the conclusion of the negotiations, that Azerbaijan releases its political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, and seek a commitment on the part of the Azerbaijani authorities to apply the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Trade and economic cooperation include fair and ambitious trade and investment provisions which do not undermine EU standards, notably sanitary, phytosanitary, environmental, labour, social, gender balance and non-discrimination standards, and that ensure the recognition and protection of intellectual property rights, including geographical indications, notably for wines and spirits; put in place robust measures that would ensure rapid progress towards improving the business and investment climate in Azerbaijan. Energy and other areas of cooperation allow for increased cooperation in the energy sector in line with the EU’s and Azerbaijan’s strategic energy partnership, and also support the diversification of Azerbaijan’s energy mix, promoting non-carbon energy sources and preparing for the post-carbon age; support the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor after addressing the important concerns related to climate change; put in place ambitious provisions on environmental protection and climate change reduction; provide new prospects for enhanced cooperation in non-energy-related areas, in particular in the fields of education, health, transport, connectivity and tourism; enhance cooperation with regard to youth and student exchanges by strengthening existing and already successful programmes such as the ‘Young European Neighbours’ network and the ERASMUS+ programme; extend the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) to Azerbaijan. Institutional provisions ensure that the agreement has a robust parliamentary dimension, strengthening the current provisions and mechanisms of cooperation; allow for regular and constructive dialogue between the European Parliament and the parliament of Azerbaijan and inform Parliament at all stages of the negotiations; ensure that the new agreement is not the subject of provisional application until after the European Parliament has given its consent.
  • date: 2018-07-04T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
other
    procedure/Modified legal basis
    Rules of Procedure EP 159
    procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
    Old
    AFET/8/09729
    New
    • AFET/8/09729
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Rules of Procedure EP 114
    procedure/legal_basis/0
    Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 108
    procedure/stage_reached
    Old
    Awaiting committee decision
    New
    Procedure completed
    procedure/subject
    Old
    • 6.40.15 European neighbourhood policy
    New
    6.40.15
    European neighbourhood policy
    activities/1/date
    Old
    2018-03-12T00:00:00
    New
    2018-04-16T00:00:00
    activities/1/date
    Old
    2017-11-13T00:00:00
    New
    2018-03-12T00:00:00
    activities
    • date: 2017-05-18T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2017-03-21T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: NICOLAI Norica
    • date: 2017-11-13T00:00:00 body: EP type: Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
    committees
    • body: EP responsible: True committee: AFET date: 2017-03-21T00:00:00 committee_full: Foreign Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: NICOLAI Norica
    links
    other
      procedure
      dossier_of_the_committee
      AFET/8/09729
      geographical_area
      Azerbaijan
      reference
      2017/2056(INI)
      title
      Negotiations on the EU-Azerbaijan Comprehensive Agreement. Recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the EEAS
      legal_basis
      Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 108
      stage_reached
      Awaiting committee decision
      type
      INI - Own-initiative procedure
      subject
      6.40.15 European neighbourhood policy