Georgia, EU hail ‘excellent state of relations’

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
Joint press statement????https://t.co/jQ0snu04e1 pic.twitter.com/mYkL4d1OgO

— EU NEAR???????? (@eu_near) 5 March 2019

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: