Georgia’s Prime Minister meets European leaders at EaP Riga Summit

The Prime Minister of Georgia is holding high-level meetings with European leaders at the Eastern Partnership (EaP) Summit in Riga.

Today is the second and final day of the 4th EaP Summit, which involves the EU’s 28 member states plus the six countries formally recognised as the EU’s eastern partners: Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Belgium

Today Georgia’s PM Irakli Garibashvili held several meetings with top EU leaders, including his Belgian counterpart Charles Michel. The meeting focussed on deepening political and economic cooperation within the Association Agreement (AA) that Georgia last year signed with the EU.

Garibashvili reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing his country’s European choice and stressed the AA was not the final goal for Georgia in its relationship with the EU.

During the meeting the leaders also emphasised the importance of expanding trade and economic ties between Georgia and Belgium and the significance of strengthening business ties. The trade turnover between the two countries in 2014 was $110 million USD.

In addition, Garibashvili thanked Michel for supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and Euro-Atlantic aspirations and invited him to Georgia.

Germany

Also today Georgia’s PM met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and gained her support for Georgia’s visa liberalisation process. Garibashvili and Merkel spoke about the EaP Summit and the successful reforms that Georgia has implemented in a short period of time. The importance of deepening cooperation between the two countries was also underlined.

Furthermore, the sides discussed the progress of Georgia–Germany relations that have been made in the past two years, as well as the positive dynamics in economic relations. PM Garibashvili stressed Germany was among Georgia’s ten biggest trade partners.

Georgian Prime Minister with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the EaP Summit in Riga. Photo by PM's press-office

Sweden

Garibashvili’s third meeting was held with the Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Lofven. The officials spoke about Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, the future of the EaP and future cooperation prospects between Georgia and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

Garibashvili thanked Lofven for ratifying the Georgia-EU Association Agreement (AA) and for supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He also expressed hope that Sweden, as one of the initiators of the EaP, would continue supporting Georgia in its European integration process and invited him to Georgia.

The Georgian Prime Minister stressed Sweden was one of the main donors of EU countries to Georgia, and Georgia’s current cooperation with SIDA was "very successful”, particularly in the direction of Georgia’s economic integration with EU, development of its market economy, as well as democracy, human rights, rule of law, environment and climate change.

France

Meanwhile Georgia’s contribution to global security, strengthening political and economic cooperation within the AA deal and the future of the EU neighbourhood policy were the main topics discussed at a meeting between Garibashvili and French President Francois Hollande.

The Georgian PM thanked the French President for his country’s non-recognition policy and for supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as Georgia’s European aspirations.

In response, Hollande underlined Georgia’s special contribution to global crisis management operations.

The sides also discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in the security sphere and prospects of cooperation with the French Development Agency (AFD) in infrastructure, agriculture, sustainable development, energy and tourism areas.

In addition, the growing dynamic of trade turnover between Georgia and France was stressed, which amounted to $157 million USD in 2014.

On a separate note, Hollande personally congratulated Garibashvili on the birth of his third child.

Irakli Garibashvili shaking hands with the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Photo by PM's office

Italy

The Georgian Prime Minister’s final meeting today was with his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi. It was the first time the two Prime Ministers have met in official circumstances.

The sides discussed opportunities to enhance economic cooperation and both parties expressed hope that the growing trade turnover between the two countries would continue.

Trade turnover between Georgia and Italy amounted to $307.812 million USD in 2014, which was slightly higher than 2013 data.

Garibashvili welcomed Italy’s adoption of the new Electoral Law ‘Italicum’, which he noted would make political life in Italy more efficient. He also wished Renzi and his party success at the next regional and local elections, which are due to be held on May 31 in Italy.

Before the meeting ended, Renzi invited Garibashvili to enjoy an official visit to Italy.