European Council President to visit Georgia next week
President of the European Council Charles Michel will meet with Georgian top officials in the capital Tbilisi. Photo: EP.
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President of the European Council Charles Michel will visit Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine next week.
He will hold meetings in the three Eastern Partnership countries between February 28 and March 3, the European Council press office has reported.
In Chisinau, President Michel will meet with President Maia Sandu before flying to Georgia where he will meet President Salome Zourabichvili, Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili and Archil Talakvadze, the chairperson of the parliament of Georgia. He will also visit the administrative boundary line (the occupation line) and meet representatives of the opposition,” said the European Council press office.
The press office stated that in addition to bilateral relations and the‘common fight against Covid-19’, the future of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative will be discussed during the meetings.
Foreign Ministers of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, David Zalkaliani, Vadym Prystaiko and Aureliu Ciocoi, have addressed the European Commission over the importance of “relevant financial support” for the Eastern Partnership in the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027.
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution in the run up to the June 19 Eastern Partnership Summit, providing recommendations to the European Council, Commission, vice president of the European Commission and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the Eastern Partnership.
Ten years have passed since the creation of the EU Eastern Partnership format, uniting six Eastern European countries: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine to support democracy, prosperity and stability in the region.
The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Georgia and the Council of Europe have presented the results of their eight joint projects carried out in 2015-2017 in Georgia.
Georgian Foriegn Minister David Zalkaliani has stated that the upcoming visit of the European Council President Charles Michel later today is a ‘clear confirmation’ that the EU stands with Georgia as its ‘most important partner’ in the region.
President of the European Council Charles Michel has met with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili in Tbilisi earlier today and stated that his visit demonstrates the EU’s commitment to countries in the region, including Georgia. Michel is scheduled to meet with Georgian, Ukrainian and Moldovan leaders during his regional trip.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with the President of the European Council Charles Michel in Tbilisi earlier today. Garibashvili has stated that Michel’s visit ‘is a clear reiteration that our region has a strategic importance for the EU.’ He also said that the visit ‘demonstrates the strong support and partnership of the EU.’
Georgian opposition parties have requested mediation instead of facilitation from the EU to come to an agreement with the ruling Georgian party amid the current political tension.
Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili will meet officials of the European Union in Brussels after departing for the official visit to the city on Monday, the President’s Administration said.