European Parliament ratifies EU-Georgia association deal
Tweet 
Share
European Parliament has approved the EU-Georgia Association Agreement (AA).
The deal was approved today in Strasbourg. When it comes into force, the AA will help establish deeper political association and economic integration between the EU and Georgia, including the progressive opening up of their respective markets.
Members of European Parliament backed the AA by 490 votes in favour to 76 against, with 57 abstentions.
Georgian Prime Minister shared the news on his official Twitter account.
#Georgia has worked hard over recent years to implement the democratic reforms which have led to this success of #AA with the #EU
— Irakli Garibashvili (@PrimeMinisterGE) December 18, 2014
Georgia’s official delegation attended the official ratification ceremony in Strasbourg, France. The delegation was include the country’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Parliament of Georgia Tedo Japaridze and chairman of the European Integration Committee of the Parliament of Georgia Victor Dolidze.
Margvelashvili also congratulated Georgia and Europe on his official Twitter account.
Landed in #Georgia. I'm full of positive emotion.Once again i want to thank each and every member of @Europarl_EN and #Georgian Delegation
— President Of Georgia (@MargvelashviliG) December 18, 2014
Georgia's former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who was invited by the European People’s Party (EPP), was also attended the session.
"The European Parliament’s ratification of the Association Agreement with Georgia has opened a new chapter in European Union relations with Georgia", said Latvian MEP Andrejs Mamikins, who is a rapporteur on Georgia.
"Georgia has made significant progress in reforms and strengthening its relations with the EU. We welcome recent judicial reforms designed to strengthen Georgia’s democratic institutions and support the efforts of Georgian society to achieve further democratization.”
Despite Georgia’s progress, Mamikins believed much work remained to be done. "Experience shows that Georgians prefer to solve their problems, not to avoid them.I think that Europe should now show real solidarity with Georgia and its people,” he added.
On another note, the European Parliament voted an accompanying non-legislative resolution on Georgia which passed by 491 votes to 84, with 63 abstentions.
Russian pressure on Abkhazia
In the accompanying resolution, MEPs stressed the agreement covered the entire internationally recognised territory of Georgia, although Russia continued to occupy Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
The EP condemned the so-called ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ treaty between Abkhazia and Russia, stated it was a step towards the full annexation of Abkhazia, and called on Russia to withdraw it.
Georgia’s reform agenda
The EP noted Georgia had made significant progress in reforms and like any other European state, it would have EU membership prospects if conditions were met. However, it urged Georgia to consolidate its reforms, end selective and political use of justice and work towards a society of pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, solidarity and equality between women and men.
"Today is a historical day for Georgia but also for the European Union”, said Vice President of the European Parliament Ryszard Czarnecki today before officials ratified of the European Union-Georgia Association Agreement (AA).
The EU-Georgia Association Agreement was ratified today by members of the European Parliament. See all tweets with hashtags #Georgia and #AA in one Twitter feed.
Hahn believed Georgia was one of the frontrunners of the EU’s Eastern Partnership Policy (EaP).
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili welcomed Thursday's vote as a strong signal of support from the EU's legislative body for Georgia's European perspective.
European Parliament President Martin Schulz has "warmly welcomed” the ratification of the Association Agreement (AA) between the European Union (EU) and Georgia and said it was the result of the efforts of Georgian authorities within the Eastern Partnership program.
The United States (US) State Department believes the ratification of the European Union (EU)-Georgia Association Agreement (AA) by European Parliament was "another important milestone” in Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
Georgian Government approved the staff of the Association Council, which has been created under the Association Agreement (AA) signed between European Union (EU) and Georgia.
Georgian Government has principal position on issues towards the occupied territories highlighted head of the Government at the annual meeting with journalists, today.
Signing the Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union (EU) and adoption of the NATO Substantial Package are among the top achievements of Georgia's Foreign Ministry in the past two years, says Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili.
Ireland is the latest country to ratify the Georgia-European Union (EU) Association Agreement (AA), that was signed in June last year.
Georgia's Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili met with the Vice-President of United States (US) Joseph Biden as part of her official visit to the US yesterday.
Poland is the latest country to ratify the Association Agreement (AA) between Georgia and the European Union (EU).
The official ratification process took place today in the Polish Sejm - the lower house of the country's Parliament.
The upper house of the Parliament of Poland (the Senate) has ratified the Association Agreement (AA) made between Georgia and the European Union (EU).
Croatia has completed the ratification process of the Georgia-European Union (EU) Association Agreement (AA) after the country’s president signed the final document.
The Senate of Czech Republic has completed the procedure for ratifying the Association Agreement (AA) made between Georgia and the European Union (EU).
The Parliament of Finland has ratified the Association Agreement (AA) between Georgia and the European Union (EU).
Today, the UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Philip Hammond signed the document, meaning Britain has completed the ratification process of the important EU-Georgia deal.
Members of the Portugal National Assembly voted today in favour of the ratification of the Association Agreement (AA) made between Georgia and the European Union (EU).
The Parliament of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has ratified the Association Agreement (AA) between Georgia and the European Union (EU).
Finland has completed the ratification process of the Georgia-European Union (EU) Association Agreement (AA) after the country’s president signed the final document.
Both Chambers of Parliament of the Czech Republic finished the ratification process of the Association Agreement signed by the European Union and Georgia on June 27, 2014 in Brussels.
The House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus has ratified the Association Agreement (AA) between Georgia and the European Union (EU).
The National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia has ratified the Association Agreement (AA) between Georgia and the European Union (EU).
Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski completed the ratification of the Association Agreement (AA) between Georgia and the European Union (EU) today.
The Kingdom of Netherlands has ratified the Association Agreement (AA) between Georgia and the European Union (EU).
The Austrian National Council has ratified the Association Agreement (AA) between Georgia and the European Union (EU).