Is the end of the Eastern Partnership near?

by  Martin Banks

 

Azerbaijan has made a robust defence of its position after MEPs adopted a highly controversial resolution condemning human rights in the country.

The resolution passed by the European Parliament on 10 September calls on the European Commission "to review and suspend temporarily, if needed, all funding not related to human rights, civil society and grassroots level people-to-people cooperation granted to Azerbaijan through the European Neighbourhood Instrument” and recalls Parliament's decision to send a delegation to Azerbaijan.

The text further says that "the negotiations for a Strategic Partnership Agreement with Azerbaijan should be immediately put on hold as long the government fails to take concrete steps in advancing respect for universal human rights".

The Azerbaijani authorities have been quick to hit back, warning that the dispute threatens to seriously undermine relations with the EU and calling on the EU "not to push Azerbaijan into Russia's arms."

The Caspian state is the only Eastern Partnership country, which has neither signed an Association Agreement with the EU nor joined the Russian-led Eurasian Union. Other Eastern Partnership states such as Armenia and Belarus already opted for signing a Custom’s Union agreement and strengthening their political ties with Moscow, which seeks to increase its sphere of influence by targeting ex-Soviet Republics.

 

The non-legislative resolution was adopted by 365 but it faced strong opposition, especially from the largest political group in the European Parliament European People's Party, with 202 no votes and 72 abstentions.

The general tendency in the EPP,easily the biggest political grouping in the Parliament, and European Conservatives and Reformists was to vote against the resolution while MEPs from ALDE, Greens and Socialists and Democrats, in general, supported the resolution.

After the resolution was passed, Azerbaijan suspended its participation in the Eastern Partnership. It cancelled a visit of a European Commission delegation to Baku and said that it will “reconsider” its relations with Europe.

Stating that it "will always protect human rights and freedom and proceed from the democratic principles", the Azerbaijani Parliament also decided to stop the activity of its delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly.

Head of the EU Delegation in Azerbaijan, Malena Mard, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev called the resolution “biased and destructive” and a blow to Azerbaijan-EU relations.

Azay Guliyev, a member of the Azerbaijani parliament, chairman of the council of state support to NGOs and vice-chair of the OSCE parliamentary assembly's committee on political affairs and security, said, “The unfair and aggressive attitude of the European Parliament towards Azerbaijan poses a threat to EU interests in the Caucasus region.”

“Azerbaijan’s stable political situation, highly tolerant culture and dynamic economy is exemplary in the Caucasus. Civil society is vibrant with thousands of NGOs, media organs and numerous political parties. 75 percent of the Azerbaijani people are Internet users and can freely express their views,” he said.

“Azerbaijan strongly supported the Eastern Partnership from its very beginning and was convinced that it would bring Azerbaijan and the EU closer together. And yet, although our country plays an important role in supplying EU’s energy, these signs of friendship and cooperation are not reciprocated and valued by the EU,” he added.

“The Azerbaijani Parliament adopted a resolution in response to the wrong, biased and unfair decision of the European Parliament. The ball is in the EU court now. Azerbaijan’s exit from the Eastern Partnership would mean the end of the European Neighbourhood Policy. And it is not difficult to predict who would be the winner in such a scenario,” said Guliyev.

The resolution has also been criticised by senior Czech MEP Jan Zahradil, president of the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR), who said he believes EU interventions in nation state matters "should be very limited."

He added, "I regard the Parliament's interference both inappropriate and counter productive. I regret the consequences of such a resolution and do not consider it helpful in any way."

Zahradil, an ECR member, said he "looks forward to further strengthening the partnership and cooperation between the AECR and Azerbaijan"

His comments come in a letter to Gudrat Hasanguliyev, chairman of the United Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan.