Thomas van Handel from the European External Action Service (EEAS) said on Tuesday 27 September that Georgia was the best performer among the countries of the Eastern Partnership.
“Everyone acknowledges that Georgia is the frontrunner in the Eastern Partnership, certainly”, he said in a conference – “Georgia: Recognising achievements, consolidating reforms and addressing future challenges and aspirations” – while Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA, Finland), who chairs the European Parliament delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, stated that “the progress made in meeting many of the conditions of the association agreement and the free-trade agreement is exemplary”.
Georgian Ambassadress to the EU Natalie Sabanadze said the association agreement is the most tangible demonstration of her country’s choosing Europe. “It’s not just about direction in terms of foreign policy but also internal development”, she said. The association agreement, along with visa liberalisation (which is expected in the near future), was “a stepping stone for Georgia towards closer European integration”, she stated.
Both van Handel and Hautala made clear, however, that the country still had more to do, underlining their expectations for the post-electoral period, that is, after the parliamentary elections of 8 October. Thus, while acknowledging that the country had made progress on its path of democratic change, van Handel said that the EU would “continue to ask Georgia to continue its reforms after the elections”. Hautala called for a more peaceful political climate. “I hope that cooperation between the political parties will improve after the elections”, she said, giving a reminder of the difficult transition after the last elections. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)