On Monday 14 November the EU foreign ministers gave their approval in Brussels to the launch of negotiations for a comprehensive agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan aimed at replacing the current cooperation agreement that has governed bilateral relations since 1996.
On Monday, the EU Council of Ministers gave a mandate to the European Commission and to High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini to negotiate this agreement on behalf of the EU and its member states.
"The new agreement should better take account of the shared objectives and challenges the EU and Azerbaijan face today", the Council says in a press release.
The new agreement will follow the principles endorsed in the 2015 review of the European Neighbourhood Policy (see EUROPE 11433) and offer a renewed basis for political dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan.
During the visit of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev to Brussels in July 2015 (see EUROPE 11364) and Mogherini's visit to Baku last March (see EUROPE 11502), the two parties agreed to accelerate their negotiations with a view to a new partnership agreement. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)