European Official discusses energy opportunities in Georgia visit

Georgia’s relationship with the European Union has entered a new stage following a high-level meeting in the Georgian capital city today.

The European Commissioner for Energy Issues Gunter Oettinger is in Georgia to participate in a visit aimed to officially begin negotiations about Georgia’s membership within the European Energy Union.

"We welcome the fact that our country has taken another important step on the road to European integration,” said Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Maia Panjikidze.

"Georgia will become a member of the Energy Community as part of a European energy space. We are ready to boost our energy diplomacy in this regard. Energy is one of the most important fields within Georgia and EU cooperation,” she said.

Following today’s meeting the European Commissioner said a new era had begun in terms of strengthening the relationship between the EU and Georgia.

"Georgia signed a pre-Association Agreement with the EU in November last year. The Agreement included a deep and comprehensive free trade area. Today we begin negotiations to join Georgia in the European Energy Union and I think by October we will have concrete results from your executive and legislative authorities with the involvement of the EU institutions,” Oettinger announced.

He said Georgia was an important and reliable partner in the transportation of energy resources.

"Joining the EU will attract significant investments in the energy sector, and provides a sustainable development in this sector.”

The European Commissioner believed signing the pre-Association Agreement with the EU and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area would bring Georgia significant benefits. This would apply to promoting Georgian products into the EU market as well as the EU providing large direct investments in Georgia, Oettinger added.

Negotiations about Georgia’s entry to the Energy Union will last for about six to eight months. The agreement expected to be signed before the expiry of the substitute European Commission, in October of this year.

The European Commissioner’s visit to Georgia will last for two days – February 20 and 21.

During his visit, Oettinger will meet with Government representatives and will deliver a public lecture at Ilia State University. Together with Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, he will attend the opening ceremony of an energy business forum, which will be attended by German and Georgian businessmen.