Denmark increases financial aid for Georgia

Denmark is stepping up its level of support for Georgia and increasing its financial aid from 5 to 25 million Danish Krone (from $900,000 to about $4.5 million USD).

The news was announced by the Copenhagen Post two days ago.

Danish Trade and Development Minister Mogens Jensen said the decision to increase financial aid to Georgia was made after Georgia signed an association and trade agreement with the European Union (EU) on June 27.

The aid will be given to support Georgia’s efforts to strengthen its democracy and financial development, he said.

"Georgia, like Ukraine and Moldova, has with its signature on Friday sent an important signal that it wants a closer bond with the EU,” Jensen said in a press release.

"Georgia faces a number of essential reforms to strengthen its democracy, adapt and promote its private sector development, and reform its public sector in accordance with EU legislation.”

This move by the Danish Government has seen Georgia replace Armenia as a ‘priority nation’ in the EU European Neighbourhood Policy's (ENP) current strategy, which lasts from 2013-2017.

The Copenhagen Post article stated within the ENP, the EU works with southern and eastern neighbours to achieve the closest possible political association and the greatest possible degree of economic integration. This goal builds on common interests and on the values of democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and social cohesion.

Six other ENP ‘priority nations’ are Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova.