EU vows to support Georgia in DCFTA implementation
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Georgia’s implementation of the Association Agreement (AA) and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) was the main topic discussed at today’s meeting between the country’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili and European Union (EU) Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn.
The two officials met in Brussels within Margvelashvili’s Belgium visit this evening.
Meeting with President of #Georgia, G.#Margvelashvili. Discussed #RigaSummit#EaP and #Association Agreement/DCFTA pic.twitter.com/Z8iBzwoCh3
— Johannes Hahn (@JHahnEU) May 11, 2015
The meeting was followed by a joint press conference where Hahn said positive results of the DCFTA had already been noticed, as Georgia’s export rate to the EU had increased.
He also said the European Commission would allocate €150 million to Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine to help the countries during the AA and DCFTA implementation process.
"We need to prepare the country and business environment, especially small and medium entrepreneurs, to more successfully respond to all requirements of the free trade space. We will offer more support to Georgia,” Hahn said.
He added a more detailed discussion regarding the financial support would take place at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, Latvia later this month.
Hahn noted the European Commission’s conclusion regarding Georgia’s Visa Liberalisation Action Plan implementation was positive. The report stated progress had been made in a short period of time but more still needed to happen before visa liberalsation would be offered.
Hahn noted another report could soon be prepared and after the second report, the EU would need to make a political decision about granting Georgia visa free travel.
At the press conference the Georgian President was asked whether or not Georgia was disappointed with the recent visa liberalisation report prepared several days before the May 21-22 Riga Summit.
- The President was asked: "Georgia’s dream really was to achieve visa liberalisation at the Riga Summit. It’s not going to happen. Are you disappointed by this?”
To which Margvelashvili responded: "Georgia has been working very hard to intensify relations with the EU; we were very active in the direction of the AA and DCFTA implementation and we have a very affective dialogue after the signature of the AA.
"As for the visa liberalisation, I believe we are very active on this agenda. Our Government, Parliament and society have done a lot to achieve this goal. We evaluate [the recent report] as positive and by carrying out the recommendation given in that report I believe we will soon achieve this goal.”