Saakashvili meets European Commission President

President Mikheil Saakashvili met the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, in Brussels on October 29. They discussed the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, where Georgia expects to initial an Association Agreement with the European Union.

"The European Union intends to make the Vilnius Summit a success; a success that fully reflects Georgia's efforts to associate with the European Union, president Barroso said.

He also underlined that the European Union is determined to keep supporting Georgia in its strategic transformation and in moving forward with an agenda that embraces democracy, fundamental rights, and the rule of law.

"During President Saakashvili's term, Georgia has achieved a very remarkable progress. It is important now to be sure that this progress in Georgia, politically and economically, is further consolidated, Barroso said.

He reaffirmed that the EU remains committed to Georgia's territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

"Reinforcing Georgia's democracy is, of course, a particular priority for us. It is vital that Georgia remains a pluralist democracy. And I assured President Saakashvili that we will remain vigilant, in particular through the work of the European Union's Special Adviser to Georgia, Mr Thomas Hammarberg, president Barroso said.