Brussels, 28/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - Attending the Congress of the European People's Party (EPP) in Brussels, President Saakashvili is encouraged to continue with the reform programme in Georgia.
Legislative elections. EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said during her meeting with Georgia's President Mikhaïl Saakashvili, in Brussels on Wednesday 27 June, that she welcomed recent reform achievements in Georgia and the good progress made in negotiations on an association agreement including a “Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area”, launched at the end of February. Ashton stressed the need to keep up the momentum by consolidating democracy and by ensuring an inclusive approach to national development. She underlined the importance of holding legislative elections in Georgia in October, and the need for the electoral process to meet international democratic standards and to be conducted “in an environment of media freedom, fair competition and transparency”. “With a solid democratic foundation, Georgia can continue to accelerate the process of EU integration which offers stability, prosperity and continuity”, she stressed. Finally, Ashton highlighted the need for Tbilissi to “maintain engagement” in order to reduce the isolation of the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Free trade agreement in 16-18 months. President Saakashvili stated, for his part, that he was confident an agreement for a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement (DCFTA) could be concluded within 16-18 months. Talks come within the broader framework of an association agreement negotiated since July 2010. Georgia already enjoys preferential access to the EU market through a GSP+ regulation. Advantages gained from the future trade agreement will therefore arise from the waiving of regulatory barriers. Bilateral trade reached €1.7 billion in 2010.
Discussions on transit for energy transport. President Saakashvili also held discussions with Commissioner Günther Oettinger on the subject of transit via Georgia of EU energy supplies, mainly in the context of the southern gas corridor. It was also planned that Saakashvili should meet Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle in the fringes of the EPP Congress on Thursday 28 June. (CG/EH/transl.jl)