Germany ratifies EU-Georgia Association Agreement

The German Bundestag (parliament) has ratified the Association Agreement (AA) between Georgia and the European Union (EU).

Today, the constitutional and legislative body of Germany’s parliament approved the Georgia- EU AA deal with support by the large majority,said German public broadcasting radio station Deutschlandfunk (DLF).

As well as Georgia, the German Bundestag also ratified Moldova and Ukraine AA deals.

"Ratification of the Association Agreement moves these countries to a new stage. I think more reforms and changes are still necessary,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was quoted as saying.

Now, German Chancellor Angela Merkel must sign the document.

The AA deal was signed by Georgia and the EU on June 27, 2014 in Brussels.

Georgia has already ratified the agreement. The ratification process is currently continuing in EU member states. EU Association deals need to be ratified by all 28 EU member countries before the agreement can be fully implemented.

European Parliament approved the EU-Georgia deal on December 18, 2014.

Germany was the 14th EU member state to ratify the EU-Georgia deal. Other countries who have already ratified the important deal are Poland, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Croatia, Romania, Hungary, Estonia, Slovakia, Malta, Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria.