Georgia hosts 6th Informal Eastern Partnership dialogue
By Tea Mariamidze
Friday, November 27
On November 26, the sixth informal Eastern Partnership dialogue meeting was held in Tbilisi at the Tbilisi Marriott Hotel.
The meeting brought together Ministers and high level officials of the six Eastern Partnership countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine - for a high level exchange on foreign affairs as well as on health cooperation.
The EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, and the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis also attended the meeting. The Informal Eastern Partnership dialogue was focused on the progress made within the areas of cooperation agreed at the Riga Summit and on prospects for the enhancement of co-operation given the results of the reviewed European Neighbourhood Policy.
According to EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, Georgia is one of the leading countries in terms of EU relations and now the main focus should be placed on the implementation of the Association Agreement (AA).
"In the context of the renewed European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), it is important to emphasize that Georgia is one of the leading countries in terms of EU relations. Now we should focus on the implementation of the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, which, together with the visa liberalization issue, will be the main topic of my bilateral meetings.”
Hahn believes that Georgia is on a good path, but noted that cooperation with the neighbours is also important. He underlined that the EU is interested in peace and stability in the entire region.
The EU Commissioner also spoke about the current developments in the world and stated that the international community should stand together in the fight against terrorism.
"Not only in Europe and its invidiual states, but also globally, the international community should stand together to fight this new phenomenon. This is a common enemy, it is an enemy who is attacking our way of life and we have to give him a clear and unified response,” stated Hahn.
Johannes Hahn will hold meetings with high-ranking officials of the executive and legislative branches of government, civil society and business sector. He will also participate in a public event entitled 'New European Neighborhood Policy and Perspectives of Regional Cooperation'.
The informal Eastern Partnership dialogues are held twice a year and hosted in turn by the Eastern Partnership countries. They allow for an open, informal exchange of views between the partner countries and high level EU representatives on foreign policy and areas of collaboration.
