Czech Senate consents to ratify Georgia Association Agreement

The Senate of Czech Republic has completed the procedure for ratifying the Association Agreement (AA) made between Georgia and the European Union (EU).

Today, members of the Senate unanimously voted in favour of the ratification of the AA, which includes the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA).

Together with the Senators, Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Lubomir Zaoralek delivered a speech at today’s plenary session and recommended the Senate to give consent to the ratification process.

He talked about Georgia’s successful European integration process and touched on the aspects of Georgian culture and history, which he believed, were consistent with European values.

In addition, the Minister underlined the strong friendly relations between Georgia and the Czech Republic.

The Senate is one of two chambers of the Czech Republic who must give consent before official ratification of the Georgia-EU AA can take place.

The second chamber – the Chamber of Deputies – is currently reviewing the ratification process. The Czech Republic will ratify the AA as soon as the Chamber of  Deputies give their consent.

The AA deal was signed by Georgia and the EU on June 27, 2014 in Brussels.

Georgia has already ratified the agreement. The ratification process is currently continuing in EU member states.

EU Association deals must be ratified by all 28 EU member countries before they can be fully implemented.

Countries that have ratified the Georgia-EU deal are: Croatia, Poland, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Croatia, Romania, Hungary, Estonia, Slovakia, Malta, Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria.

European Parliament approved the EU-Georgia deal on December 18, 2014.