European Council on Wednesday published a joint press statement following the 8th Association Council meeting between the EU and Georgia, in Brussels.

The meeting was chaired by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze led the Georgian delegation. The Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Mr Olivér Várhelyi, also participated.

According to the statement, the Association Council welcomed Georgia’s successful economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and its GDP growth. The EU commended Georgia’s sound fiscal and monetary policies which allowed to weather well the shock related to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. The EU recalled the instrumental role in safeguarding macroeconomic stability of the National Bank of Georgia and stressed the importance to guarantee its independence and credibility.

“The Association Council highlighted that the EU remains Georgia’s largest trading partner and welcomed Georgia’s growing exports to the EU. The EU underscored its continued commitment to support Georgia in further alleviating obstacles to trade and underlined the importance to continue implementing obligations under the DCFTA. The Association Council welcomed the agreement reached to start working towards setting up a Priority Action Plan (PAP), recognised the good progress made so far to agree on the content of the PAP and stressed the importance of properly implementing the actions listed therein to enhance the implementation of the DCFTA.

The EU stressed the importance of accelerating the implementation of the Economic and Investment Plan, notably through its flagship projects, including those geared towards developing connectivity between Georgia and the EU as matters of mutual interest. The EU reiterated Georgia’s role as a partner for European energy security, and notably its transit role for Caspian hydrocarbon resources.

The EU welcomed the steps taken by Georgia and expressed willingness to support Georgia’s further efforts towards ensuring the necessary preparations and taking the required steps, especially in the area of anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, to meet the criteria for joining the geographical scope of the Single Euro Payments Area schemes.

The Association Council welcomed Georgia’s commitment and steps to harmonize its legislation aimed at integrating it into the EU’s “Roam like at Home” regime and EU’s readiness to adopt a decision on amending the Association Agreement to include related acquis.

The Association Council appreciated Georgia’s strong involvement in Erasmus+, Horizon Europe and the Creative Europe programme.

The Association Council welcomed Georgia’s efforts towards modernising its civil protection system and capacities and looks forward to Georgia adhering to the pathway document handed in the margins of the Council meeting, aimed at guiding Georgia’s integration into the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

The Association Council emphasised that the Eastern Partnership and its resilience-oriented framework remain relevant and will continue in complementarity with the enlargement process, and highlighted the need for concrete deliverables for 2024.”