German lawmakers: “Georgia is successfully heading to European integration”

German lawmakers are happy with the progress Georgia has made towards Euro-Atlantic integration and say Germany will continue supporting the country as it continues to carry out democratic reforms. 

Today in Berlin representatives from the Bundestag (Germany’s Parliament) told Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikheil Janelidze of their country’s ongoing support for Georgia.

Georgia’s European integration process is very successful. Georgia took huge steps in this regard by carrying out a range of democratic reforms including major reforms in the justice sector,” said Thomas Faist, a member of the Bundestag from Christian Democratic Union of Germany.

Georgia’s European integration process with such reforms is very realistic,” Faist added. 

He noted Georgia and Germany had a strong partnership but more could be done to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the areas of economy and education. 

Meanwhile Axel Fischer, head of the Bundestag delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), believed Georgia had an ambitious reform agenda and progress was being made in this direction.

Georgia's Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze met the representatives of German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Photo by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. 

It is of paramount importance to help Eastern European countries get closer to Europe,” he said.

Janelidze informed the German lawmakers about the important reforms being carried out in Georgia and reiterated his country’s determined efforts to move towards Europe. 

Also today the Georgian Minister met members of the influential German research organisation, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), where he discussed Georgia’s efforts towards Euro-Atlantic integration. 

Janelidze said all European Union (EU) member countries had ratified the EU-Georgia Association Agreement (AA) deal and once all the technical issues of the agreement were settled, it would come into full play.

The other topics Janelidze discussed with German experts included: 

• The first results Georgia achieved as it implemented its free trade deal with the EU. Janelidze mentioned the increase in trade turnover between Georgia and EU member states and the growing interest of European business communities in Georgia;
• The Minister informed the German experts of the reform project initiated by the Prime Minister of Georgia which aimed to improve Georgia’s business and investment environment and share the best international experience in the tax, management and educational directions.   
• Janelidze emphasised Georgia’s vast transit opportunities and the country’s active involvement in the development of the southern energy and transport corridor that increased Georgia’s strategic role for Europe, Asia and the region as whole.
•  The Minister discussed Georgia’s strategic cooperation with the United States, efforts and action taken to integrate with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), Georgia’s current format of cooperation with NATO and the country’s expectations for this year NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland.     
• Discussions also revolved around Georgia’s current relations with Russia, the situation in Georgia’s occupied territories and the involvement of the international community in the peaceful conflict resolution process. 

Janelidze, who will end his Germany trip on February 26, was also scheduled to meet his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier while abroad.  

The Georgian Minister will also hold meetings at the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Germany and meet business and media representatives.