In a bid to support ongoing demining efforts in Azerbaijan, the European Union (EU) has announced plans to allocate an additional 2 million euros to the country, Ednews reports.

Gert Jan Koopman, Director General of the European Commission for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, announced the "Team Europe Initiative on Mine Action in Azerbaijan" event held in Baku.

"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.

The funding boost underscores the EU's commitment to assisting Azerbaijan in clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance, which continue to pose a significant threat to civilians and hinder socio-economic development in affected regions.

This allocation follows previous contributions from the EU towards demining activities in Azerbaijan, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in addressing this pressing humanitarian issue.