EU ambassador vows bloc’s “steadfast support” for Georgia’s integration ahead of candidacy decision

Paweł Herczyński, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday pledged the bloc remained “steadfast” in its support for Georgia's integration ahead of the European Council decision this week on the country’s candidacy. 

Addressing an event for the unveiling of the publication titled Georgian Agriculture Sector: Transformation and Last Decade’s Development Trends at the Georgian Parliament, the domestic media cited the diplomat as saying the decision was expected to transfer Tbilisi to a “new integration phase”. 

He highlighted "today, we are on this common path” of integration, before pledging the EU's backing for Georgia's agriculture and lauding its “notable” adherence to EU food product quality regulations and standards, which he said had led to an increase in Georgian exports to the bloc. 

He noted the EU supported Georgia's agriculture and rural development strategy through the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development over the past decade, and added it was the “flagship of EU aid to Georgia”, currently in the fourth stage of cooperation.

The Programme is run under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area deal, signed with the Association Agreement between the sides in 2014.

The Ambassador also stressed the importance of addressing the concern of “generational renewal” in rural areas, adding the agricultural sector needed “specific attention to maintain the sustainability of food producers and leave no one behind".

Hailing the “excellent quality of Georgian fruits, vegetables and food products”, the diplomat expressed hope for their increased visibility in the EU market and added the bloc’s agricultural policy reform “should support this process”.

He also noted the EU would “undoubtedly back [the] integration into the European market" as the country approached membership.