MEPs Assess Implementation of EU-Georgia Association Agreement

The European Parliament assessed at its plenary sitting on November 13 implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement (AA) based on the report produced by MEP Andrejs Mamikins (S&D, Latvia).

In his opening remark yesterday, MEP Mamikins said that the country “has undertaken substantial reforms for the successful implementation of the Association Agreement,” and that the AA has “a very positive effect on the EU-Georgia relations.”

“Georgia is the example proving that the EU structural foreign policy works,” he told the European lawmakers, adding that although Brussels “is still silent on concrete membership process, the Georgian side puts a lot of energy into it.”

The Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn addressed the MEPs as well, saying the report demonstrates “the achievement and progress” made by Georgia in implementing of the Association Agreement, as well as “the positive trends in terms of closer links with the European Union.”

The Commissioner, however, noted that ensuring proper functioning of labor market, efficient social protection mechanism, strengthening economic governance and public financial management, as well as the business environment and financial infrastructure, are some of the areas that “require further improvement.”

At the plenary debates, MEP Clare Moody (S&D, United Kingdom) said “Georgia is a frontrunner in the region; it is a star in the region for its commitment to European values, underlining that Georgia’s future is European.” The MEP also welcomed the country’s “cross-party and popular support” on its European integration path.

MEP Victor Bostinaru (S&D, Romania) spoke at the sitting as well, saying Georgia is a “key country” for the European Union and that it has made “incredible progress” in terms of implementing the Association Agreement.

MEP Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA, Finland) also underscored that “in certain international rankings Georgia does better than many EU member states.” “We see that Georgia is steadily doing progress, and we have to encourage Georgia to do even more,” she noted.

According to MEP Charles Tannock (ECR Group, United Kingdom), the “overall the picture [in Georgia] is one of progress,” but “more work” needs to be done in areas such as the judiciary reform and fighting high-level corruption.

MEP Andrejs Mamikins drafted the report following his visit to Georgia in July 2018. The report was approved by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) in October. The document will be voted at the plenary sitting on November 14.

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