Georgia Initialled the Associated Agreement (AA) and DCFTA with EU

Georgia technically initialled the Association Agreement with EU at the Eastern Partnership Summit (EaP) in Vilnius on 28 November.

The each page of the secret 1,125 page AA document was signed by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia Davit Zalkaliani and Deputy Economy Minister Mikheil Janelidze.

The initialing of the association agreement between the EU and its member states on the one part and Georgia on the other part means that Georgia confirmed its intention to be closer for more than 350 reforms to EU.

By technically signing the document by the Georgian delegation, it commits a close and lasting relationship based on common values, that is respect for democratic principles, rule of law, good governance, human rights.

After the technical initiall of the AA document Davit Zalkaliani commented for the journalists that 28 November is a historical day for Georgia as the process of Georgia's European integration has become irreversible.

"I congratulate the Georgian population on the initialing of this agreement. We are now moving to a very responsible stage of EU integration. This is the unswerving choice of our people, which must be respected by any government," Zalkaniani noted.

The Association Agreement seeks to establish close economic and political cooperation, and provide for the progressive liberalisation of trade.

The EUs 500 million consumers market will be opened for Georgia as soon as DCFTA will become a legal reality for Georgia by the end of 2014.

The Associated Agreement replaced the 1996 agreement on partnership and cooperation with the EU.