EU allocates €20 million to strengthening Georgia's defence capabilities
The new package of financial assistance for the country was approved within the framework of the European Peace Facility, an off-budget funding mechanism for EU actions with military and defence implications. Photo: MOD of Georgia
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The Council of the European Union on Friday approved a €20 million assistance package for strengthening Georgia's defence capabilities, the Georgian Defence Ministry said.
The new package of financial assistance for the country was approved within the framework of the European Peace Facility, an off-budget funding mechanism for EU actions with military and defence implications.
The package will also promote Georgia's active cooperation with the European Union within the framework of the bloc’s Common Security and Defence Policy.
The European Peace Facility will provide support to Georgia in cyber security for the first time this year, with the package also aiming to strengthen military-medical, military-engineering and transport capabilities.
In comments over the approval of the package, the Georgian Defence Ministry said the development “once again” demonstrated Georgia’s status as the EU’s “most important” and “reliable” partner in the region.
The body also said the sides had a “strong interest in deepening cooperation in defence and security, including for increasing resilience to various hybrid threats”.
The European Union continues to actively engage in the process of promoting peace and stability in Georgia, strongly supporting the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders”, the Ministry noted in its response.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili will feature in a ministerial meeting of the Eastern Partnership on Monday, with the event bringing together European Union foreign ministers and their counterparts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday said he stood with Georgia as a “defender” of the country’s interests and he would always be, as it has been an obligation of all Georgian citizens to “think about the country”.
Polish President Andrzej Duda on Monday said his country was supporting Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
The Council of the European Union on Thursday adopted a decision on non-acceptance of Russian travel documents issued in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine and Georgia.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze on Friday extended his gratitude to the European Union for approving a €20 million assistance package for strengthening Georgia's defence capabilities.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of the Slovak Republic on Saturday adopted a resolution “fully” supporting the European perspective of Georgia and the activities of the European Union and Slovakia, both at the diplomatic and political levels, which would promote the accomplishment of this perspective, the Georgian Parliament press office said.
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.
The latest assistance measure adopted by the Council of the European Union for the Georgian Defence Forces was discussed on Friday in a meeting between the Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze and the bloc’s Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski.