One year on from EU-Georgia Association Agreement
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Georgia is celebrating the first anniversary of signing its Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union (EU); an occasion described by Georgian leaders as a "giant step towards free Europe”.
In June 2014 the EU and Georgia signed an AA, which included a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). The AA deal significantly deepened political and economic ties with the EU in the framework of the Eastern Partnership.
In the first six months since the AA came into force, Georgia has already seen its exports to the EU rise by 12 percent. The deal gave Georgian entrepreneurs the chance to tap into the EU market and its 500 million-plus consumers.
#1YearTogether has been a popular Twitter hashtag this week.
Nice #EaP stories from #Georgia#Moldova & #Ukraine after #1YearTogether#EasternPartnershttp://t.co/6ytmJmnqkzpic.twitter.com/UYC8zSqvxl
— Maja KocijanÄiÄ (@MajaEUspox) June 29, 2015
To mark the first anniversary of the EU-Georgia AA deal, Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili issued a special statement that stressed the importance of the AA deal for Georgia and he also highlighted the country’s EU future plans.
Garibashvili said implementation of the AA had been an "absolute priority” for his Government, noting the deal has been ratified by the European Parliament and 21 of 28 EU member states.
"Thanks to this historic Agreement we have seen Georgia steadily making further progress on legislative harmonisation with the EU with the ultimate goal of achieving political association and economic integration with the Union," Garibashvili said.
"For the people of Georgia, who have overwhelmingly opted for democracy, reform, and the irreversible path of European integration, the logical next step would be the swift finalisation of the visa liberalisation process," he added.
"This would be a clear sign of recognition by the EU of the tough sacrifices so willingly made by Georgians in recent years."
PM Garibashvili’s statement also noted in May this year, the 34 heads of state and governments who attended the Riga Eastern Partnership Summit adopted a joint declaration that reaffirmed the EU's commitment to supporting Georgia’s European integration path, including by fast-tracking visa liberalisation for Georgians travelling across the bloc.
The European Commission is due to deliver its opinion on a visa waiver for Georgian citizens on December 15, 2015.
"As acknowledged at Riga, visa liberalisation would benefit the stability, security and prosperity of the European Union, Eastern European partners and our entire continent," Garibashvili said.
"My Government would like on this first anniversary of the AA to remind the EU how important this next step is for Georgia as it maintains the pace of reforms."
Garibashvili described the signature of the Agreement as a "new great date in the chronicles of his homeland”.
Bulgaria is the latest country to ratify the Georgia-European Union (EU) Association Agreement (AA).
Parliament of Latvia has unanimously ratified European Union (EU) Association Agreements (AA) with Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova.
Today Parliament ratified the AA with 123 votes in favour and 0 against.
The Government of Georgia is sharing details with its international partners of the country’s progress and ongoing efforts to assimilate with the European Union (EU) – something it is obligated to do under the Georgia-EU Association Agreement (AA).
One year on from Georgia’s EU integration the country is already showing immense progress, particularly in the agriculture sector where growth is evident in a range of directions.
Members of European Parliament (MEPs) have recognised Georgia’s reform progress and commended the country's efforts to move closer to Europe.
A European Union (EU) delegation has positively assessed Georgia’s efforts to fulfil its obligations since the country signed the Association Agreement (AA) with the EU last year.
European Union (EU) Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn believes Georgia has carried out "impressive reforms” to meet its obligations drafted within the EU-Georgia Association Agreement (AA) deal, signed in June 2014.
Efforts of Moldova, Ukraine also praised
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution for Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova on how the nations fulfilled their obligations drafted in their respective Association Agreements (AA) with the European Union (EU).
Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili thanked the European Parliament for its yesterday’s positive resolution over Georgia’s fulfilling its Association Agreement (AA) deal with the European Union (EU) and responded to the Parliament members’ concern over several issues later today.
Georgia’s state-operated railway company will ensure the Caucasus is connected with Europe and Scandinavia, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili says.
Last night the EU Foreign Affairs Council announced its decision to end the procedures needed for ratification of the EU-Georgia AA deal. The Council said the Agreement would come into force on the first day of July 2016.
The main angel in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius is wearing Georgian scarf to mark the full force of Georgia’s Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union (EU).
Today is one of the most important days for Georgia on its European Union (EU) integration path as the country’s Association Agreement (AA) with the EU is fully and officially coming into force.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has announced the launch of a large-scale project which aims to raise awareness of the Georgian people living in regions regarding the benefits of Georgia integrating into the political structures of the west.
Member of the European Parliament Clare Moody has stated that Georgia is a star of the region for its commitment to European values. Moody made the statement yesterday at the European Parliament’s plenary session, during the discussion and debates of the report drafted by MEP Andrejs Mamikins regarding the implementation process of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement.