Brussels, 13/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 12 December, Luthuania's Foreign Affairs Minister Linas Linkevicius (on behalf of the EU) and his Georgian counterpart, Maia Panjikidze, signed the protocol to the partnership and cooperation agreement between the EU and Georgia concerning a framework agreement on the general principles of Georgia's participation in EU programmes. Panjikidze stated that this signature will offer fresh opportunities for sectoral cooperation. Georgia will therefore be able to participate in programmes on health, research, culture and support for small and medium-sized enterprises, according to Linkevicius.
The ministers then moved on to the 14th EU-Georgia Cooperation Council. They discussed what should be done before signing the association agreement, which was initialled at the summit in Vilnius. “We must work quickly to adopt an association agenda”, said Linkevicius. Panjikidze said that strong EU support will be needed for 2014, for signing the agreement and for its implementation. “2013 was an excellent year” of cooperation between the EU and Georgia, said Panjikidze. “The historic Vilnius summit is a milestone in our relations. The country is perfectly anchored on the European integration route (…). Georgia is following its European integration path irreversibly”, she stated.
Europe hailed the “continuing” consolidation of Georgian democracy, while underlining the importance of continued respect for political pluralism and freedom of the media “as the hallmarks of a healthy democracy”. The EU called for criminal trials to be conducted “in a transparent and impartial manner, to avoid any perception of political motivation” and stressed that the protection of minorities requires particular attention. Linkevicius and Panjikidze discussed the latest developments in conflict resolution in Georgia. (CG/transl.fl)