Brussels, 21/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 21 May, Georgia's Prime Minister Giorgi Margvelashvili and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso signed “a financing agreement worth €19 million for the 'Framework Programme in support of EU-Georgia Agreements'”. This agreement has the objective of helping the Georgian institutions implement the association agreement, including visa liberalisation and readmission agreements. This new programme aims at better governance of Georgia's main institutions, improvement of its business and investment climate, and Georgia's economic development. Georgia will contribute €550,000 to the programme.
During their meeting, Margvelashvili and Barroso also discussed the signature of the association agreement which will take place on 27 June. “I am more than confident that we will sign the agreement without problem or complication”, said Margvelashvili. “This agreement will put our relations at a new level of quality. In short, it's a masterplan for Georgia's Europeanisation - which will bring numerous opportunities and advantages for Georgia”, he said, underlining that it is very important for Georgia that this agreement is not the final objective of Georgia's cooperation with the EU. Georgia is not able to join the EU at the moment - it is not impossible and it can be as close as possible, said Barroso. He added that it was necessary to work towards Tbilisi's rapprochement with the EU, but that is was not necessary to commit to a date or special goal right now. In Barroso's view, this will depend on Georgia's progress and also on how the EU evolves.
Barroso reiterated the EU's support for the Georgian reform programme in the political, judicial and economic areas. He highlighted the importance for respect of the rule of law, avoiding selective justice and ensuring the necessary political space for all parties and civil society. Margvelashvili stressed the importance of increased sectoral cooperation, focusing on priority areas such as energy security, transport, agriculture, education and research. (CG)