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Good morning ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending this press conference today.

 

We are very happy to be visiting Georgia, yesterday and today. This is my first visit to the South Caucasus since my election as Chair of the Foreign Affairs committee of the European Parliament. Above all, this visit is an opportunity to discuss our very strong EU-Georgian relations and to support Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

 

This week, 8 Members of the European Parliament, representing all of the 6 largest political groups in Parliament are visiting Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia.

 

Yesterday, we had a very good discussion with President Margvelashvili preceded by several meetings in the Parliament with the leadership, the opposition parties (European Georgia, National Movement, Patriots of Georgia), the Public Defender and with the civil society representatives. We also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Janelidze), the Minister of Justice (Ms Tsulukiani) and State Minister of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration (Mr Dolidze).

 

Later today we will visit the EU Monitoring Mission in Mtskheta and the administrative boundary line then travel onwards to Armenia for the last part of our mission.

 

We come with a clear message: Georgia is the front runner in the Eastern Partnership. The reforms that are taking place in this country are impressive. And we welcome the ongoing work on the implementation of the Association Agreement. The European Union recognises this and, for this reason, we also agreed in March this year – and with a very large majority in the European Parliament – to allow Georgian citizens to travel without visa to the EU (except U.K. and Ireland) for up to 90 days. 

 

The European Parliament is also working closely with the other institutions on providing the necessary financial support to Georgia, in order to implement the important reforms that will allow for further economic growth and a strengthening of institutions, including the Rule of Law.

 

At the same time, we would like to encourage the government to continue with the reform efforts, especially the reform of the Judiciary, the fight against corruption and the protection of minorities. We see progress but much has yet to be done. 

 

We discussed the constitutional amendments which are expected to bring major changes, including to the electoral system. We know that no one system is perfect. Therefore, we welcome the fact that the government is consulting the legal experts in the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission and we support a broad consultation, with the opposition and civil society, so that these major reforms are as inclusive as possible.

 

In this context, I would also underline the importance of checks and balances by independent institutions, including the Public Defender and State Audit Office.

 

We also discussed media pluralism in Georgia. As part of building a stronger democracy, it is important that the authorities defend the independence and plurality of the media. The Rustavi 2 case is emblematic in this respect and we hope that a solution that is acceptable to all will soon be found. 

 

At this point I would like to say a few words about an issue on which the European Union has been unequivocal, time and time again. We fully support Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. At the same time, we commend the authorities for their constructive and pragmatic engagement with the occupied territories, in the interests of all its citizens. 

 

In this spirit, the EU is deepening its cooperation with Georgia – with the Association Agreement which includes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and of course the visa waiver I already mentioned. We want nothing less than all Georgian citizens and businesses to benefit from these opportunities.

 

Finally, let me mention another point of importance in the European Parliament’s relations with Georgia. I am referring to the launch of the Comprehensive Democracy Support Programme for the Georgian Parliament. This is a follow up to the 2016 parliamentary elections and it aims to assist the Georgian Parliament with the implementation of the related recommendations. The European Parliament was present to observe the elections and we are now working side by side with the Georgian Parliament to support this implementation before the next elections.

 

Thank you very much.

 

 

Thank you, Chairman Samad Seyidov, for your invitation to the European Parliament to visit Baku and for hosting us in the busy period of the Islamic Solidarity Games.

It is very important for us to be here in Azerbaijan today – this is my first visit to the South Caucasus since my election as Chair of the Foreign Affairs committee of the European Parliament. Above all, our visit is a demonstration of the resumption of an open and frank dialogue between the European Parliament and the Milli Mejlis.

This week, 8 Members of the European Parliament, representing all of the 6 largest political groups in Parliament are visiting Azerbaijan followed by Georgia and Armenia.

Today, we started with a very good meeting with President Aliyev, followed by the First Vice-Chairman of the Milli Mejlis – Mr Ziyafat Asgarov – then with my counterpart, Chairman Samad Seyidov. This afternoon we will visit internally displaced people and refugees in Masazir followed by a meeting with Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

Finally, as we do in every country we visit, we will also meet with civil society representatives and human rights defenders. It is important for us to meet political authorities, parliamentarians and civil society, to discuss our relations with all the key actors.

Azerbaijan is an important partner for the European Union and we have had the opportunity to reaffirm our support to Azerbaijan’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We share common challenges, such as terrorism and illegal migration. We also share common interests.

A few months ago, the EU and Azerbaijan started to negotiate a new agreement. This agreement is for us both an opportunity to develop a closer relationship to tackle these challenges and pursue our interests. Our partnership in the energy sector is already strategic. Let me just mention the Southern Gas Corridor. There is also potential here to boost our cooperation in terms of tourism, infrastructure and transportation.

The European Parliament is closely following the negotiations of this new agreement and, once the negotiations are over, we will be asked to give our consent to the deal.

The parts of the agreement on our common values such as democracy, the Rule of Law, good governance, the protection of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms – all these are equally as important as the parts on trade and sectorial cooperation. The EU and Azerbaijan agree to these within the UN, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE. All these values will be the subject of the debate in the European Parliament.

For this reason, I am very happy that we have relaunched our interparliamentary dialogue. Already, earlier this month, European and Azerbaijani Members of Parliament agreed in a joint statement that, “progress” in the area of protection of human rights and freedoms “is important also in the context of the new agreement”.

Today, we continued our open and frank dialogue. We welcomed the release of a few Human Rights defenders at Novrus this year as well as Leyla & Arif Yunus in 2015 and we encouraged the authorities to implement the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and swiftly release all political activists and human rights defenders. We also discussed recent legislation, which limits the funding of NGOs, and the situation surrounding some media outlets that are experiencing difficulties in Azerbaijan.

Let me add that we value Azerbaijan´s role as a Muslim secular country, with freedom of religion and belief and inter-cultural dialogue.  We also understand the challenges that arise from Azerbaijan´s geographical situation.

This is why we hope that Azerbaijan can prove to become a leading democracy, with a thriving civil society, upholding our common values, at the juncture between Europe, the Muslim world and Asia.

The Rule of Law and an effective fight against corruption can bring more trade and more investment. Our European and Azerbaijani businesses need little more to develop strong partnerships. Together, we will work hard to deepen our cooperation and to support your reform efforts.

Mr Seyidov, I would like to thank you once more and I personally look forward to welcoming you back in Brussels in the very near future.

 

Thank you and we are ready to take a few questions.

A Foreign Affairs Committee delegation, led by its Chair David McAllister (EPP, DE), will travel to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia on 22-25 May to meet the Presidents, Speakers, parliamentarians from the ruling as well as opposition parties and civil society representatives. The 8 Members of the European Parliament are to take stock of a recent deal on a new EU-Armenia agreement, the advancement of negotiations on a new EU-Azerbaijan agreement and the deepening of EU-Georgia relations.

Ahead of the visit Mr. McAllister said: „My colleagues and I are very much looking forward to our visit to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia next week. This is a region of great importance for the European Union and a major counterpart to our Eastern Partnership policy. We share many interests, notably in terms of promoting peace, security and trade, and we also seek to uphold our values – especially democracy, rule of law, good governance, human rights and fundamental freedoms – as we seek to further deepen our partnerships.“

In addition to Mr. McAllister, the EP’s delegation will be composed of seven MEPs: Mr. László Tokes (EPP, HU), Ms. Željana Zovko (EPP, HR), Mr. Andrejs Mamikins (S&D, LV), Mr. Angel Dzhambazki (ECR, BG), Mr. Ivo Vajgl (ALDE, SL), Mr. Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL, DE) and, representing the interparliamentary delegation, Ms. Heidi Hautala (Greens, FI).

The delegation is planning to visit Azerbaijan on 22 May and meet the authorities including President Ilham Aliyev, the Chairman of the Milli Mejlis Ogtay Asadov and parliamentarians as well as with civil society representatives. On 23 May, the MEPs will head to Georgia to meet President Giorgui Margvelashvili, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze, civil society organisations and to visit the EU monitoring mission (EUMM Georgia) in Mtskheta on 24 May. The EP’s delegation is to finish its mission in Armenia on 25 May with meetings with President Serzh Sargsyan, the Speaker of the National Assembly and a visit of an EU funded field project. 

The EU is currently reshaping its relationship with Armenia and Azerbaijan through new agreements for which the negotiations have just ended (Armenia) or just started (Azerbaijan). The MEPs’ visit will feed into the European Parliament’s report and recommendation on these agreements to be drawn up later this year.

Only a political process led by the different Syrian groups and supported by the UN could end a war in Syria and the EU should take a more active role.

MEPs endorsed the EU strategy for Syria and advocated for a united and independent country in a resolution voted on Thursday. They are convinced that only a political process led by Syrian groups, under UN supervision and based on a new constitution, can lead to free and fair elections. This is the only way to end a war, which already cost 400.000 lives and left 13.5 mln. people in urgent need of food, water and shelter.

The EU, as the largest donor, needs to involve itself more in the Syrian peace process: facilitate the political transition, bring parties closer together, support the Syrian population and prepare for reconstruction, MEPs say. They also hint at some early confidence-building measures, such as unhindered humanitarian access throughout Syria, the end of all city sieges or the release of hostages.

MEPs condemn the atrocities, human rights and international law violations by all parties in the conflict, and in particular the forces of the Assad regime, supported by Russia and Iran, as well as by ISIS/Da’esh and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. They urge that a Syria war crime tribunal be set up, pending a successful referral of these crimes to the International Criminal Court.

Заява Комітету Європейського Парламенту у закордонних справах під головуванням Девіда Макалістера (Європейська народна партія, Німеччина), Парламентського комітету асоціації між Україною та ЄС під головуванням Даріуша Росаті (Європейська народна партія, Польща) та постійного доповідача щодо України Міхаеля Галера (Європейська народна партія, Німеччина) щодо підписання безвізового режиму для громадян України:

«Сьогоднішнє підписання законодавчого акту, який звільняє громадян України від необхідності отримання візи для здійснення поїздок до країн ЄС, свідчить про завершення тривалого процесу, розпочатого ще в 2008 році.

Вже наступного місяця громадяни України зможуть подорожувати до країн ЄС без віз на період не більше ніж 90 днів протягом півроку. Без сумніву, це чудова можливість для розвитку міжособистісних контактів, сприяння впровадженню спільних проектів та наведення мостів між населенням України та країн ЄС. Сподіваємося, що завдяки безвізовому режиму із посіяного нами зерна виросте високе та багате на плоди дерево.

Виконання всіх вимог Плану дій щодо візової лібералізації вимагало від всіх органів державної влади України величезних кроків у напрямку реформування країни. Слід звернути увагу на той факт, що ці кроки були здійснені в складних умовах через російську агресію проти України. Серед виконаних Україну вимог ми звертаємо особливу увагу на її досягнення в сфері боротьби з дискримінацією та корупцією. Тепер, коли безвізовий режим уже надано, складно уявити можливість здійснення кроків назад в цих та інших сферах. Саме тому ми закликаємо українську владу та наших колег у Верховній Раді чинити опір будь-яким спробам повернути назад ці досягнення. Навпаки, ми закликаємо рішуче продовжувати зусилля на посилення антидискримінаційного законодавства та незалежних антикорупційних органів.

В цей радісний для України та відносин ЄС та України день ми все ж пам’ятаємо про тривожну ситуацію на східних територіях України та незаконну анексію Криму. Зокрема, ми пам’ятаємо цивільне населення та солдат, які загинули в останні декілька днів в Авдіївці. Як сьогодні зазначив Міністр закордонних справ України Павло Клімкін, в останні декілька місяців ми спостерігаємо за посиленням негативної тенденції на інтеграцію територій, які утримують російські війська та їхні маріонетки, до економічної та адміністративної системи Росії. Ми вкотре закликаємо вжити всі можливі заходи задля припинення цих дій та задля збереження цілісності країни та єдності її громадян. Особливо важливим в цьому контексті є досягнення прогресу в імплементації Мінських домовленостей. Ми вважаємо, що всі останні події повинні бути взяті до уваги, особливо під час майбутніх дискусій щодо питання санкцій ЄС проти Російської Федерації, зокрема в економічній сфері».

European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs committee chair David McAllister (EPP, DE),
EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee chair Dariusz Rosati (EPP, PL)
and Ukraine standing rapporteur Michael Gahler (EPP, DE) issued the following
statement on the signature of EU visa free regime for Ukrainian citizens:
“Today’s signature of the law exempting Ukrainians from visa requirements for travelling in
the EU marks the finalisation of a long process which started already in 2008.
As of next month, Ukrainian citizens will be able to travel to the EU without visa for up to
90 days. It makes no doubt that this will be an outstanding way of developing interpersonal
contacts, facilitating the development of joint projects, and building bridges among the
populations of Ukraine and of the EU. It plants a seed that will hopefully grow into a tall
tree with many fruits.
Fulfilling all the benchmarks of the visa liberalisation action plan has required a
tremendous reform efforts from the side of the Ukrainian authorities. This is all the more
remarkable bearing in mind the challenging conditions under which they had to be carried
out, as a result of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Among the benchmarks that
were fulfilled, we particularly underline the achievements in the field of anti-discrimination
and of fight against corruption. It would be hard to understand backwards steps in these
areas and beyond, now that the visa-free regime has been granted. This is why we call on
the Ukrainian authorities and on our counterparts in the Verkhovna Rada to resist any
attempt to unravel these achievements, and on the contrary to pursue with determination
the fight for the consolidation of the anti-discrimination legislation and for independent anticorruption
institutions.
On this joyful day for Ukraine and for EU-Ukraine relations, we don’t forget however about
the deeply worrying developments in the Eastern part of Ukraine and in illegally annexed
Crimea. We remember in particular the civilians and soldiers who died in the past few days
in Avdiivka. As we heard today from Minister for Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin, the
tendency observed since a few months hinting at the integration of the territories held by
Russian troops and their proxies into the Russian economic and administrative system is
aggravating. We reiterate our calls to make all efforts to stop this evolution and to preserve
the unity of the country and of the people, in particular through progress in the
implementation of the Minsk agreements. We believe that these developments must be
taken into account notably in the upcoming discussions on the EU sanctions against the
Russian Federation, especially the economic ones.”