Georgia’s European Way - Ensuring Regional Stability Conference Opens in Batumi

The 14th annual international conference Georgia’s European Way - Ensuring Regional Stability started in Batumi on Thursday.

The two-day conference will focus on European security, economic and geopolitical issues, new forms of cooperation between the EU and its associated partner countries, and the role of Georgia in the process of regional stability.

EU energy security, diversification of the energy markets and the process of energy market liberalization are said to be among the themes of particular focus at the conference this year as Georgian government representatives and high-ranking delegates from Europe gather in the Adjara capital.

Three financial agreements will be signed during the conference in Batumi: EUR 250 mln financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) within the Georgia’s Transport Communication Project [see page 6]; allocation of an additional EUR 3.5 mln financing for the Vardnili and Enguri HPP rehabilitation; and funds provision for 10 electro and 20 diesel buses to Batumi.

President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, and Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, addressed the conference with speeches.

“The crawling occupation continues to bring tension to the region. Georgia addresses this problem with the highest responsibility and patience. Our attitude towards this historical injustice which takes place just several kilometers from here, reflected in the occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions, is an attitude built on European standards and European values,” President Margvelashvili stated as he addressed the audience at the conference. “The process of integration of Georgia in the European process is stable and sustainable...” he noted.

“European integration is inevitable and inconvertible for the Georgian people,” Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said, as he noted the importance of European and Euro-Atlantic integration as one of the driving forces for the development of the country.

Maroš Šefcovic, Vice President, European Commission for Energy Union, noted that the European Union is the number one trade partner and investor in Georgia, where, as he stated, the European Union supports all the progressive reforms that make Georgia a leader in the Eastern Partnership program. Sevcovic emphasized the importance of the association agreement signing, as he talked about strengthening of the economic and political relations with the EU.

Nino Gugunishvili