EU eyes allocating additional 2M euros to Azerbaijan for mine clearance

The EU plans to allocate additional 2 million euros to Azerbaijan for mine clearance, Director General for the Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations Gert Jan Koopman said in Baku during the event “Team Europe Initiative on Mine Action in Azerbaijan,” Report informs.

"Today I'm very pleased to be able to announce there's an additional 2 million euros of grant financing this year for more technical assistance in order to further strengthen capacities. I'm also very happy to indicate that we are exploring with you the use of support instruments for capacity building under our so-called TAIEX program. TAIEX is a program that brings together our member states' technical experts to help with the development of the capacity building. If there's an interest from Azerbaijan, we would be delighted to take this forward," he noted.

Landmines are a scourge that affects everyone, including children, and hinders economic and social development, has tragic consequences and therefore needs to be moved up the priority ladder more decisively, he added.