2015-06-29
Brussels, 29 June 2015 - One year after Georgia signed its far-reaching Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili hailed its success in enhancing democratic standards and trade in his country and paving the way toward full EU membership.
Mr. Garibashvili said implementation of the AA has been an absolute priority for his government, noting that it has been ratified by the European Parliament and 17 of the 28 EU's member states.
"Thanks to this historic Agreement, we have seen Georgia steadily making further progress on legislative harmonisation with the EU with the ultimate goal of achieving political association and economic integration with the Union," Mr. Garibashvili said.
"For the people of Georgia, who have overwhelmingly opted for democracy, reform, and the irreversible path of European integration, the logical next step would be the swift finalization of the visa-liberalization process," he added. "This would ba a clear sign of recognition by the EU of the tough sacrifices so willingly made by Georgians in recent years."
In May this year, the 34 Heads of State and Government attending the Riga Eastern Partnership Summit adopted a joint declaration, which reaffirmed the EU's commitment to the European integration path of Georgia, including by fast-tracking visa liberalization for Georgians travelling across the bloc.
The European Commission is due on 15 December to deliver its opinion on a visa waiver for Georgian citizens.
"As acknowledged at Riga, visa liberalization would benefit the ‘stability, security and prosperity of the European Union, Eastern European partners and our entire continent'," said PM Garibashvili. "My government would like on this first anniversary of the AA to remind the EU how important this next step is for Georgia as it maintains the pace of reforms."