PM: Georgia-EU Association Council Meeting in Brussels Outcomes

“Indeed, we have had a very long, very intense, very positive meeting. It has been, as always, a pleasure to welcome and host you here in Brussels,” Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in the Juncker Commission said, opening the joint press conference, following the European Union and Georgia Association Council Meeting, where Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, participated on Monday, leading the Georgian delegation in Brussels, Belgium. 

“We both agree that EU-Georgia relations have progressed incredibly, since the last Association Council. Important milestones have been achieved. First and foremost, this is the visa free travel regime for Georgian citizens. We are implementing the Association Agreement and aligning with legislative and institutional standards of European Union, in almost all areas of cooperation”, Prime Minister Kvirikashvili said. 

“Last November we adopted an ambitious EU –Georgia Association agenda with a broad list of priorities that will ensure deeper political association and economic integration throughout 2020. Georgia is gradually integrating with EU internal market; implementation of the DCFTA has opened new opportunities to local and international businesses in Georgia. Today, the European Union is its largest trade partner. We are diversifying our exports to EU, which are also rising; last year, commission gave its green light to honey, black sea fish products to enter EU market,” he stated. 

As Federica Mogherini said at the briefing after the council meeting, “Today we see many opportunities that have opened for us and for our citizens and we have explored today the ways in which we have to explore in full this potential, make sure that we build on this achievements to deliver for our citizens both in Georgia and in the European Union, that we meet their expectations.” 

The 4th meeting of the Council discussed the tangible results in the implementation of the Association Agreement and the DCFTA. In this context, the Council emphasized the 2017 Report on the Implementation of the Association Agreement which lauds the significant progress in Georgia-EU relations.

By Nino Gugunishvili