Georgia, EU hail ‘excellent state of relations’
Georgian PM Mamuka Bakhtadze and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini at the joint press conference. Photo: European Union
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Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, who chaired the Georgian delegation at the EU-Georgia Association Council in Brussels said at a joint press conference that today’s meeting was “very fruitful”.
We were able to discuss the great progress we have made on a wide range of issues of our cooperation agenda”, PM Bakhtadze said.
We discussed the implementation of the Association Agreement including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA)”, he also said, adding that Georgia continues "to overhaul its legislative and institutional system to bring it in line with the EU norms and standards".
Presented Georgia’s new #Roadmap2EU at the #EU-#Georgia Association Council in #Brussels. This ambitious plan will allow Georgia to achieve the highest possible level of convergence with the EU and help us bring our country closer to the #Union ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/SmSx21Ieva
— Mamuka Bakhtadze (@BakhtadzeMamuka) 5 March 2019
PM Bakhtadze also underscored that Georgia has promised to be a role model in the region when it comes to moving closer to Europe and that the country will do its best to deliver the promises "despite internal and external challenges".
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, who led the EU delegation said that Georgia and the EU have a “very important and mutually beneficial friendship and partnership”.
Georgia’s made great steps on the implementation of our Association Agreement. This provides the basis for our political association and our economic integration”, Mogherini said.
She also noted that the EU is “fully committed to exploring the full potential” of their partnership, including the export and growth potential offered by DCFTA.
According to the joint press statement following the meeting, both sides welcomed the “excellent state of EU-Georgia relations and reaffirmed their continued commitment to advance Georgia's deeper political association and economic integration with the EU”.
The Association Council welcomed the discussions that took place at the meeting and noted the readiness of both sides to follow-up on its results”, the statement reads.
????????????????In case you missed it:????️Watch the joint press conference following the 5th #EU-#Georgia Association Council with HR/VP @FedericaMog, #EU-Commissioner @JHahnEU &????????PM @BakhtadzeMamuka????https://t.co/RKhhTZaM2k
— EU NEAR???????? (@eu_near) 5 March 2019
Joint press statement????https://t.co/jQ0snu04e1 pic.twitter.com/mYkL4d1OgO
Both Georgian and the EU officials acknowledged at the meeting “Georgia’s European aspirations, its European choice and the common objective of continuing to build a democratic, stable and prosperous country”.
The Association Council also took note of Georgia’s "Roadmap 2EU" aimed at enhancing Georgia's EU integration.
The sides also reaffirmed their “continued commitments to bring tangible benefits to the lives of Georgian citizens” in line with the Association Agenda’s four key areas of cooperation:
- economic development and market opportunities;
- strengthening institutions and good governance;
- connectivity, energy efficiency, environment and climate change;
- enhancing mobility and people-to-people contacts.
The Association Council is the highest formal institution established under the EU-Georgia association agreement to supervise the implementation of the agreement.
The full EU-Georgia Association Council press conference is available below:
A Georgian delegation headed by Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has left for Brussels, Belgium to present a ‘very ambitious’ roadmap for Georgian integration into the EU today which offers ways for Georgia, beyond the Georgia-EU Association Agreement, to integrate faster into the EU. The roadmap will be presented during the fifth meeting of the Georgia-EU Association Council.
The Georgia-EU Association Council Meeting will be held on 5 March in Brussels, Belgium and will be chaired by Georgia this year, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has announced.
The European Union (EU) and the Georgia Association Council meeting will be held in Brussels, Belgium on February 5. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili will lead the Georgian delegation comprised of the members of the Cabinet.
The Georgian government says that today’s Georgia-EU Association Council meeting highlighted the fact that "since the last meeting of the Georgia-EU Association Council Meeting Georgia has achieved enormous progress and vital outcomes”.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze will start his official working visit to Japan tomorrow. In Japan PM Bakhtadze has scheduled to meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Tarō Kōno and Finance Minister Tarō Asō.
Georgia will receive almost €50 million from the EU within the Support for Skill Development financial agreement and about €48 million within the Economic Development and Business Support in Georgia agreement, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has announced after a meeting with EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom.