Defence Ministry: EU-Georgia relations 'dynamic' as €12 mln approved to strengthen country's defence
“The European Peace Facility aims to strengthen the capabilities of beneficiary countries in military and defence to promote internal resilience and peace,” the Georgian Defence Ministry says. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Tweet 
Share
The Georgian Defence Ministry calls the cooperation between the EU and Georgia ‘dynamic’, after the Council of the European Union allocated €12.75 million in support for Georgia, comprising medical and engineering equipment, as well as civilian mobility assets.
This important decision is a confirmation that the Georgia-EU cooperation is dynamic,” the ministry says.
The financial assistance was approved within the framework of the European Peace Facility (EPF) and will be dispersed over 36 months.
The purpose of the assistance is to strengthen the country’s defence capabilities, including assisting civilians in times of crisis and emergency, and to develop the potential ‘that will facilitate Georgia's active cooperation with the EU under the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP),’ the ministry says.
#EuropeanPeaceFacility: @EUCouncil adopts assistance measures in favour of #Georgia ???????? (€12.750.000), #Moldova ???????? (€7 million), #Ukraine ???????? (€31 million), & #Mali ???????? (€24 million) in conjunction with @EUTMMali.
— EU Council Press (@EUCouncilPress) December 2, 2021
???? Read the press releasehttps://t.co/MLdObAuWJn
The EU will also allocate a financial support package for Ukraine, which is expected to receive €31 million; Moldova, which will get €7 million euros; and Mali with a €24 million assistance package.
The European Peace Facility aims to strengthen the capabilities of beneficiary countries in military and defence to promote internal resilience and peace,” the Georgian Defence Ministry says.
The EPF was founded in March 2021 to finance external EU actions with military or defence implications, ‘with the aim of preventing conflict, preserving peace, and strengthening international security and stability.’
Infrastructure projects are being conducted in six Georgian municipalities in the Imereti and Guria regions with a value of 2.5 million GEL, which are part of the first phase of the Georgian government’s 220 million GEL Pilot Integrated Regional Development Grant Programme (PiRDP), of which 186 million GEL comes from EU funding.
The European Union will allocate funds for Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova and the Republic of Mali to strengthen their military and defence capabilities. Georgia will receive 12.75 million euros over a period of 36 months to strengthen the capacities of its defence forces, including their ability to provide services to civilians in crises or emergency situations.
Urban renewal, tourism and business development projects will be undertaken in a total of seven Georgian municipalities in 2021-22 for which the EU will disburse about 4 million GEL (about $1,270,123/€1,109,754), the Georgian government administration reports.
Cities and towns in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine (Eastern Partnership countries) will explore new opportunities through the EU-funded Mayors for Economic Growth Facility (M4EG), launched by the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
A programme supporting Georgia’s sustainable and inclusive growth, balanced territorial development and good governance has been launched with the financial support of the European Union and the German Government, with the project worth €9.5 million.
The Council of the European Union on Thursday adopted two assistance measures under the European Peace Facility in support of the Armed Forces of Moldova and the Georgian Defence Forces to enhance “national security, stability and resilience” in both countries.