Georgia Getting it Right: Overview of the PM’s Meetings at the 5th EaP Summit
Within the framework of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) 5th Summit, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili held a meeting with President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker. Both parties discussed the achievements of Georgia, the positive development of dynamics in Georgia-EU relations, and the bilateral relations agenda. It was pointed out during the meeting that Georgia is ready to take even more active steps to further draw closer to the EU.
The President of the European Commission commended Georgia's reforms and congratulated the Prime Minister on the successful October 21 local elections.
Kvirikashvili also held a meeting with his French counterpart, Édouard Philippe. The main topics of discussion were bilateral cooperation, the progress achieved by Georgia in European and Euro-Atlantic integration, and the further strengthening of the Eastern Partnership format.
Attention was paid to the ongoing and implemented reforms in Georgia. The positive dynamics of cooperation between France and Georgia in various sectors was also acknowledged. The sides also talked about the Open Government Partnership, which Georgia has recently taken over following the French Presidency.
The Georgian PM also met his Swedish college, Stefan Löfven. They positively assessed the boosted economic cooperation between Georgia and Sweden. It was noted that in the first 9 months of 2017, trade turnover with Sweden increased by 38.5%. Particular attention was also paid to the current situation in Georgia's occupied territories. The Prime Minister of Sweden expressed his firm support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders.
Prospects of the intensification of economic relations and growing dynamics of trade turnover, which exceeded 41% in 2017, were the main topics discussed by Kvirikashvili and the PM of Finland, Juha Sipila. The Prime Minister of Georgia informed his Finnish counterpart on the progress achieved by Georgia on the path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, implemented reforms and the leading positions of the country in various international ratings.
Kvirikashvili, then met Theresa May, British PM, in Brussels on November 24.
As Georgian Public Broacaster (GPB) reports, the Prime Ministers of Georgia and the UK discussed the high level of political dialogue between the two countries and the active economic relations; discussing further potential for expanding their economic partnership. The Wardrop Strategic Dialogue 4th plenary session held in London in October also indicated a great potential for the further strengthening of political and economic diplomacy between the two countries. During his meeting with the UK Prime Minister, Kvirikashvili also talked about the importance of cooperation with UK in the process of Georgia’s NATO and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Kvirikashvili also spoke about the ongoing reforms in Georgia, and thanked Prime Minister May for supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and for supporting Georgia in its European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
“The Eastern Partnership Summit has ended, with everyone in agreement on how Georgia has managed to realize a very ambitious reform plan, and at the same time consolidate democracy,” Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated at the end of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels. “This is a great achievement for our country, for which there was a full consensus. It is very important that this format appeared to be an instrumental role for Georgia, enabling us to make the steps that we made to date; such as the Association Agreement signing, trade agreement and visa liberalization,” he said, further noting that the Georgian government’s ambitious reform plan is to continue “bringing [Georgia] a possibility to move even further towards Europe”.
“We have full readiness from our partners to support Georgia in this process, as Georgia has achieved great success. When a window of opportunity opens to Georgia, our country needs to be ready. This is our task and we’re fulfilling it,” Kvirikashvili said.
The GT team