Brussels, 07/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - Commission President José Manuel Barroso and the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Brussels on Tuesday to establish an energy partnership between the EU and Baku. Implementation of the MoU is in four parts: - greater integration of Azerbaijan into the European energy market, it having participated in European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) since 2004. This would mean gradual harmonisation of Azerbaijan legislation with Community legislation in the energy sector with a view to convergence of the electricity and gas markets; - strengthening EU energy supply security (through supplies from the Caspian basin) and transit systems; - development of a comprehensive energy demand management policy; - and the promotion of technical cooperation and the exchange of expertise. After the signing ceremony, Mr Barroso welcomed the strengthening of bilateral relations between the EU and Baku in the context of the ENP and said: “Energy and economic cooperation are an important part of our bilateral relations. But the European Neighbourhood Policy is much broader than that. Our relations are also about pursuing shared European values of democracy, good governance, fundamental freedoms and the protection of human rights”. He gave his assurance that the “EU will continue to work with Azerbaijan in all of these political and economic areas”. During his meeting with President Aliyev, Mr Barroso also raised the fact that there was no freedom of the press in Azerbaijan. (eh)