Parliament adopts resolution on 10th anniversary of Eastern Partnership
By Lizi Zurabiani
Friday, October 25
The Parliament of Georgia has drafted a resolution on the tenth anniversary and future vision of the Eastern Partnership. Tamar Khulordava, Chairwoman of the Committee on European Integration spoke about the document at the briefing.
According to her, the draft resolution will be presented to the bureau sitting. The document will be put to the plenary session after consideration of the document in parliamentary committees.
The resolution is aimed at different actors, reiterating Georgia’s aspirations and readiness to take up commitments.
“States that since the restoration of independence, European integration has been the driving force behind Georgia's democratic development and economic transformation and its foreign policy priority, which is supported by the record in the Georgian Constitution,” reads the resolution.
It notes that EU integration in 2014 has become a priority of Georgia's foreign and domestic policy through the signing of the Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union;
The Parliament of Georgia calls on the EU institutions and EU Member States to maintain the positive dynamics of the Eastern Partnership as a successful EU foreign policy initiative.
The Parliament of Georgia calls on the Government of Georgia to step up efforts to implement the Association Agreement and its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement as an important precondition for full EU integration.
“[The Government shall] continue active cooperation with both EU institutions and EU / Schengen Member States to ensure the smooth operation of visa-free travel. Continue to fulfill the commitments under the Visa Liberalization Action Plan and implement EU-Georgia Joint Operational Actions,” states the resolution.
“We currently exercise so close relationship with EU today that we could not have imagined 10 years ago. We enjoy the EUAA, DCFTA and visa liberalization, we participate in projects that are available only for EU member states. The integration process is moving forward, but we are looking even further,” the Chair of the Committee noted.
According to Khulordava, Georgian Parliament is actively involved with its partners in a newly launched EU project, which includes comprehensive considerations on the future of the EaP - "We wish for our national interests, our aspirations to be taken into account as much as possible in shaping the future visions of the EaP,” Khulordava commented.
The document has been submitted to the Parliament and will be discussed next week. The Chair of the EU Integration Integration Committee hoped that the document will be backed by both the ruling party and the Parliamentary opposition - “I hope this will be perceived as a common document. Unity on the issue of Georgia's EU integration is a very significant signal and helps us to accomplish our ambitions towards the foreign policy,” stated Khulordava.
