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Commissioner Fule wants to keep up the pace of EU political association with Georgia

Tuesday, October 30
Stefan Fule, the EU’s Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, said today that maintaining the pace of the EU’s political association with Georgia is “vital to the credibility of the Eastern Partnership and to the prospects for stability and peaceful development in the Southern Caucasus”.

In a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 26 October, the Commissioner said: “The new government has also already very clearly expressed its ambition to move forward at speed with critical processes such as the Association Agreement, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area negotiations, and the visa liberalisation process. In return, we have assured them of the European Union’s ongoing commitment to support these ambitions, in terms of technical support, policy dialogue, and the effective targeting of financial assistance.”

He referred to a visit that he had made to Tbilisi last week to meet Georgia’s political leaders and civil society as being “an opportunity to get to know our new interlocutors, and to stress three main points: firstly, that all European Union ‘offers’ are still on the table, and we are ready to work with the new administration as quickly and as energetically as they wish; secondly, that we expect both the cohabiting parties - Presidency and government - to build on the commitments they have made to a smooth and professional handover, and to support long-term interests of Georgia and its people. Finally, we have of course reminded our hosts that the European Union is committed to Georgia’s territorial integrity. Through the Geneva International Discussions and the European Union Monitoring Mission, we are the guarantors of Georgia’s security. We will not step away from these responsibilities, but at the same time we expect Georgia to shoulder its responsibilities too”.

“I came away reassured that Georgia’s democracy is in good health, and that both Prime-Minister designate Ivanishvili and President Saakashvili are committed to working together and to the continuation of a smooth transfer of power, in their country's best interest,” Fule said.

Noting that he was awaiting the final report of OSCE-ODIHR [election observation mission]“with great interest”, he said that “we should not forget the key issues that preoccupied us in the run-up to the polls – freedom of assembly, access to the media, campaign financing, and the use of administrative resources. It is important to remain vigilant on all these issues”.

“I am glad that the European Union was able to contribute to the quality of these elections through media monitoring, parallel voter tabulation, and other forms of assistance,” he said.

He also praised the European Parliament for it role in an observation mission for Georgia’s recent elections.

“You contributed to the observation mission conducted in Georgia by OSCE-ODIHR, and to the balanced and highly pertinent report of preliminary observations which was released on 2nd October. I want to signal my appreciation for that work, and for the ongoing commitment of all of you to Georgia’s long-term democratic development,” he said. “I can only support the assessment made by President Schulz – these elections were, in the main, competitive, free and peaceful. They indicate growing democratic maturity and underscore Georgia's commitment to its democratic path.”

“I would also like to underline the valuable role of this House in supporting Georgia’s democratic development so far. I am confident you will continue in this work, helping Georgia to build stronger democratic institutions, to implement all the lessons learned from the October elections, and to encourage an effective parliamentary dialogue between government and opposition, in the service of long-term policy continuity, accountability and transparency,” he said.
(EU Neighbourhood Info)