The date has been set when Georgia will sign the Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union (EU).
The president of the European Council announced that Georgia will sign the important document on June 27.
European Council president Herman Van Rompuy said the signing of the agreement would see the EU, a 28-nation bloc, enter a new historical period of relations with Georgia.
He believed the AA was "not the final goal” but it helped to improve cooperation between Georgia and EU nations.
Following this announcement, Rompuy went onto his Twitter account and said: "EU will sign Association Agreement with #Georgia 27 June in Brussels. Important milestone.”
He said Georgian officials realized the country needed strong democratic institutions, the rule of law and protection of human rights.
When speaking to the Georgian Prime Minister, Van Rompuy assured Garibashvili the EU would firmly support Georgia as it worked towards EU integration, which "we started simultaneously”.
"Georgia is a free democratic country which has made its choice without external pressure and this external pressure must not change this choice,” Van Rompuy said at a joint press conference with PM Garibashvili following their meeting.
He praised the Government for its efforts in implementing the ambitious reform agenda, including the recent adoption of the anti-discrimination law.
"The EU respects diversity and the rights of all citizens regardless of skin colour, religious, gender and sexual orientation. This is not traditional or European values, it is universal human values,” Van Rompuy said.
"By adopting the anti-discrimination law, Georgia had demonstrated that this country shares these values ââand is ready to protect them for the benefit of citizens.”
He also highlighted the impartiality of the country’s judicial system and said Georgia had gathered "the greatest experience” in conducting the democratic elections.
Van Rompuy invited PM Garibashvili to Brussels to sign the AA document.
"I would like to warmly welcome you to Brussels for signing the Association Agreement. We fully acknowledge Georgia’s European aspirations. After meeting the key requirements of the Association Agreement we will have a common future,” Van Rompuy said.
In response, Garibashvili underlined Georgia was ready to continue implementing large scale reforms highlighted in the AA document.
"Due to the difficulties in the Eastern Partnership countries we expect more active action from the EU. We believe the EU will support the countries that made a European choice,” Garibashvili said.
The European Council president believed the level of security in Georgia had increased thanks to a close relationship with the EU.
"We will stand firmly by Georgia’s side,” Van Rompuy tweeted.
After meeting with PM Garibashvili the President of the European Council shared a few thoughts on the relations between the EU and Georgia with people at Europe house.
Rompuy believed 2014 was a big year for Georgia.
"2014 is a big year for Georgia. You will be marking huge progress on the path to political association and economic integration with the European Union. Georgia faces many challenges, and we will stand by you,” he said.
Rompuy said that choosing the path of political association and market integration with the EU "should not be seen as a rejection of close relationships with other partners.”
"It should not be seen as a zero-sum game. Russia is a neighbor. But good neighbors respect each other’s borders. Respect of territorial integrity is a precondition for stability, here and elsewhere in Europe,” he said.
"The Association Agreement, with its free trade aspect, is fully compatible with improved trade across the Caucasus.”
He stressed that there’s always a risk that security challenges could be played on "to scare you.”
Rompuy also announced that the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso will visit Georgia on June 13.
Ukraine Crisis
Van Rompuy, who arrived in Georgia from Kiev, reiterated the European Union’s firm commitment to Ukraine’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity in Tbilisi at the press conference.
"After the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, the EU has introduced sanctions against a number of individuals and entities,” he said.
He believed the EU would continue to insist on and work for dialogue and negotiations, as this was the only way forward to come to a stable, democratic, inclusive and modern Ukraine.