Panjikidze: EU-Georgia Association Agreement will strengthen Georgia’s European choice
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Georgian Foreign Minister believes the Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union (EU) is an historical event as it will further strengthen Georgia’s European choice.
A week before Georgia signs the AA with thr EU, Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze held a press conference to inform the public about the advantages of the AA and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which Georgia will sign with EU on June 2.
"The Association Agreement will be signed in an unprecedented short period after initialing it with the EU. This proves both sides eagerness to deepen cooperation and move into a new stage of relations,” Panjikidze said.
She believed signing the AA with the EU on June 27 was a result of a hard work. The Foreign Minister also expressed gratitude to the people who had been involved in the negotiation process since 2010.
"The Association Agreement is an innovative and ambitious, so-called "new generation" agreement because it envisages the deep and comprehensive free trade component and Georgia must meet several key requirements in order to be recognized by the EU,” she said.
"After signing the AA, EU integration will become not only a foreign but domestic policy priority.”
Panjikidze said Georgia's movement to align with European standards including political, economic, and social and law standards, would increase the quality of life of Georgian citizens. She also said the DCFTA would enable Georgian companies to enter the largest economy in the world for its 500 million consumers.
"Furthermore, the DCFTA will contribute to the harmonization of European standards in the field of food safety. It will help to establish an even more transparent and stable business environment and implement the innovations and new technologies,” Panjikidze said.
Speaking on how the DCFTA would impact Georgia’s economy, Panjikidze said the country's gross domestic product would increase by 4.3 percent and export by 12 percent in the long term.
The President of Georgia will be noticeably absent from the ceremony where Georgia will sign the Association Agreement (AA) with the EU.
A few days before Georgia signs the Association Agreement with the European Union, the European Commission released a special statement outlining the importance of the trade deal.
One day before the European Council June summit begins, European Council president Barroso called the signing of the AA "historic” for Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine but also for the wider European region.