Georgian FM: EU being Georgia’s main trade partner "most significant result" on European integration path

The status of the European Union as the main trade partner of Georgia is a “most significant” result of the country's European integration process, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili told Imedi TV on Friday.

Darchiashvili noted trade with the EU had increased by about 15 percent, in comments on the matter. 

When we talk about the diversification of our export market, this will be, and is, a very important impetus for the strengthening of Georgia's bilateral trade with the European Union. The list of different products under our free trade agreement with the European Union is added very intensively, which will be an additional opportunity for our citizens and entrepreneurs to have access to the EU market,” the top Georgian diplomat said.

The Minister stressed Georgia had “very positive expectations” from European partners that the “greater efforts” made by the country on the path of European integration would be "properly appreciated".

Today we proudly talk about the fact that Georgia has managed to complete the European Union questionnaire in a very short time, on the backdrop of all the challenges that the country, our region and the world in general face. We have very positive expectations from our [European] partners that greater efforts made by Georgia on the path to European integration will be properly appreciated,” Darchiashvili concluded.

On Tuesday, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili handed over the second completed part of the EU membership questionnaire, filled out by the country ahead of schedule, to Carl Hartzell, the Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia.

Based on the questionnaire, the European Commission will prepare an evaluation report on granting the candidate status to the country, with the relevant decision expected by the end of June.