Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova request deeper cooperation with EU
Georgian, Ukraine and Moldovan FMs have sent a letter to EU officials. Photo: open4business.com.ua.
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Georgian, Ukrainian and Moldovan foreign ministers have sent a joint letter to EU officials in which they requested deeper cooperation between their countries and the EU.
The letter sent to the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi and FMs of the EU member states reads that Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova need and are ready for more ambitious and closer cooperation with the EU in the framework of the EU’s Eastern Partnership Initiative (EaP).
Delighted that my partners @DmytroKuleba @AureliuCiocoi & I addressed HR @JosepBorrellF & @OliverVarhelyi W joint letter on enhanced COOP of APs within #EaP. New prospects should bring us closer 2 ????????.We believe decisive actions will strengthen ????????’s reframing role in neighborhood. pic.twitter.com/JmN31QeZfw
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) February 2, 2021
A key message of the letter is that the EaP should open up new opportunities for its ambitious members to establish closer ties with the EU, strengthen a political dialogue, economic and sectoral integration and ensure step-by-step and full integration of the countries in the EU’s inner market,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.
The ministers said that the letter aims to encourage the creation of a new, long-term strategy for the EU’s associated partners which will make the EaP stronger and strengthen the EU’s role in the region.
Earlier today Georgian, Ukrainian and Moldovan Foreign Ministers David Zalkaliani, Dmytro Kuleba and Aureliu Ciocoi have pledged to strengthen cooperation on the path to EU integration at a virtual meeting ahead of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit.
The European Commission has put forward a proposal for the long-term policy objectives of the Eastern Partnership beyond 2020 to increase trade, strengthen connectivity and deepen the economic integration with Eastern Partnership countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
Georgia’s Black Sea town of Batumi will host the inaugural investment forum of the Eastern Partnership on July 11. The event will bring together some 400 participants from the European Union and the six countries of the Eastern Partnership - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has stayed Georgia needs more ambitious plans, like that of the Eastern Partnership 10 years ago. He also said the country is “ready to make large steps forward.”
“I believe that European unity needs Georgia as much as we need Europe”, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated, congratulating everyone on Europe Day today.
“The Associated Trio will work together on common interests for European integration, including the implementation of Association Agreements with the EU and the further development of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative. Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova will work together to strengthen political and economic dialogue and sectoral integration with the EU,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry has reported.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his official visit to Kiev. During the meeting Zalkaliani and Zelensky spoke of strategic partnership between Georgia and Ukraine and pledged to enhance bilateral dialogue as well as cooperation on the path to Euro-Atlantic integration.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Ukrainian Defence Minister Andrii Taran have discussed the strategic cooperation between Georgia and Ukraine earlier today in Tbilisi.
Georgia joined celebrations of Europe Day on Sunday, an annual date celebrating peace and cooperation across the continent, with landmarks across the country illuminated with European Union colours and messages recognising ties between Georgia and the EU.
The Georgian, Ukrainian and Moldovan foreign ministers will meet with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles today in Brussels to discuss further cooperation between the EU and its three associated members within the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative (EaP) format.
The Georgian, Ukrainian and Moldovan FMs have met with High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles earlier today in Brussels on behalf of the Associated Trio format the countries created in May 2021 to strengthen cooperation for the EU integration. At a press conference Borrell said that the EU ‘should be proud that our partners want to move closer to us and even to join it.’
President of the European Council Charles Michel and the presidents Moldova and Ukraine Maia Sandu and Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Georgia to participate in the Batumi International Conference beginning on Monday, July 19.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has called yesterday’s disrupted parliamentary session ‘damaging and unacceptable’ amid the upcoming 17th International Conference - Georgia's European Way, which is taking place in Batumi today. Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri was to deliver an address at yesterday's extraordinary session regarding the events of July 5 and the measures taken by the police. Gomelauri was interupted by opposition MPs from the beginning of his speech and was not allowed to continue.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the occupation line between Russia-occupied region of Abkhazia and Georgia on the Enguri bridge today.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, along with his Ukrainian and Moldovan counterparts, Denys Shmyhal and Natalia Gavrilita, has discussed ways how strengthen ties with the European Union (EU), and the steps which will facilitate the European integration of the countries.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has stated that the invitation of Georgia to Riga Summit at the meetings of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) is the recognition of Georgia’s progress as an aspirant country by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
“The Georgian delegation headed by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili will leave for Brussels for meetings with the PMs of Ukraine and Moldova and high officials of the EU”, said Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani.
Georgian, Ukrainian and Moldovan PMs held a meeting in Brussels earlier today, prior to meeting with top EU officials in the coming hours, ahead of the December 15 summit of the EU’s Eastern Partnership (EaP) initiative. It is the first visit of the Associated Trio to Brussels, a joint initiative of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova launched in May 2021 to strengthen cooperation towards common European goals and EU membership.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Ukrainian PM Denys Shmuhal and Moldovan PM Natalia Gavrilita have pledged to deepen ties with top officials of the European Union while paying a visit to Brussels ahead of the December 15 Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit.