Analysis of the European Commission Proposal for 2011-2013 National Indicative Programme for Azerbaijan

Analiză aprofundată 25-01-2010

The briefing examines the reasons for the review of National Indicative Programme for Azerbaijan 2011-2013. It tests the congruence of the changes suggested to the new NIP with the main strategic objectives of the EU-Azerbaijan relations as reflected in the Country Strategy Paper and (CSP) European Neighbourhood Action Plan and its relevance to the political, social and economic developments in the country. The priorities which were largely preserved in the NIP 2011-2013 rightly reflect the assessment of the Midterm Evaluation of Azerbaijan’s progress in the ENP AP implementation as uneven and slow. The NIP priority one “Strengthening democratic structures and good governance” retains its primary importance in the context of the deterioration of freedoms, which took place in Azerbaijan in 2009.The persisting problems in the area of democracy and governance, as well as the problem of corruption requires greater emphasis on the “bottom up approach” in addressing these issues. While there is a progress in reduction of poverty and improvement of investment climate, the problems remaining in the reform implementation should be addressed through greater transparency and participation of the civil actors and independent institutions in the process of distribution of resources and budgetary policies.