PM Garibashvili returns “optimistic” from Brussels
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NATO-Georgia relations are moving up to a new stage, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said as he summed up his two-day visit to Brussels, the political capital of the European Union (EU).
The Georgian PM assessed his meetings at NATO, EU Council, Euro Commission and European Parliament as "successful, positive and optimistic”.
He said the EU "unanimously admitted” that Georgia had made "impressive reforms” and it had "a number of achievements”.
"Our European friends appreciate these successes that we have achieved for the past two years,” Garibashvili said.
"They are excited that considering the current economic hardship in the country, we have an increase of six percent”.
The PM said "in the nearest future”, meetings with President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and President of the European Council Donald Tusk were scheduled. In addition, next year EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini would visit Georgia.
Garibashvili also spoke about the recent World Bank report of international ratings that calculated effective governance and said the rate of effectiveness of the Georgian Government had reached "its historic maximum” in the past decade.
"This is the result of the policy that our Government has implemented for the past two years,” the PM said.
"Even according to the risk of corruption, Georgia is on 11th place and it is ahead of European countries. Now it is important to keep our country stable and we will achieve it.”
Garibashvili said it was also important to have a "more constructive opposition” in the country.
"It is also the wish of European Commissioners that the opposition becomes more constructive," he said, adding "a more constructive opposition” would cooperate with the Government and the latter was "motivated” for this.
Garibashvili said the EU also welcomed the Georgian Government’s restrained policy towards Russia and it was concerned about the possible signing of the ‘Alliance and Integration’ treaty between Moscow and Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region.
"When it comes to the territorial integrity of our country, we will be very principle and we will not allow any compromise," the PM said.
The European Union (EU) will allocate €30 million (73 million GEL) to Georgia to assist the country’s regional development.
The European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management is concerned about the possible signing of an ‘Alliance and Integration’ treaty between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region.
European Parliament (EP) President Martin Schulz is promising to "speed up” Georgia’s visa liberalisation process with the European Union (EU).
"The partnership between the European Union and Georgia is a strong one and it will become even stronger in the coming years as we implement the agreement for the benefit of Georgia and the EU,” said High Representative Federica Mogherini following the important meeting.
The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Ministers have reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to the shared objective of visa free travel for Georgian citizens and welcomed the country’s progress as it implements the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP).
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili is attending the first meeting of the European Union (EU)-Georgia Association Council in Brussels today.
