Georgia’s Foreign Minister stresses civil society’s role in country’s development in Brussels

Georgia’s top diplomat has joined hundreds of high officials from all over Europe and beyond to participate in the eighth Annual Assembly of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum in Brussels.

Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze took part in the opening panel of the working session on issues regarding the Eastern Partnership policy.

The event was officially opened by European Union (EU) Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn.

Georgia's Foreign Minister (C) sits with EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn (R) and another EU official at the conference in Brussels, Belgium. Photo by the press office of Georgia's Foreign Ministry. 

When Janelidze addressed the audience he underlined the importance of the main goals of the Eastern Partnership and the role of civil society in a country’s development.

The introduction of effective inclusive governance is one of the priorities of our Government that is evidenced by the active involvement of civil society in the important processes of the country’s development,” the Georgian Minister said.

The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum is a platform for interaction between the Eastern Partnership civil society organisations and the EU through facilitation of reforms in the EU’s eastern partners.

The Eastern Partnership is a joint initiative involving the EU, its member states and six eastern European partners: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

Officials from EU institutions and Eastern Partnership states attend the event in Brussels, Belgium. Photo by the press office of Georgia's Foreign Ministry. 

The eighth Annual Assembly was held on November 28-29 in Brussels, Belgium. It was held under the title "Building a Common Secure and Democratic Future” and brought together around 200 representatives of civil society organisations, the EU institutions and Eastern Partnership governments.