2014-05-21
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili paid a working visit to the Kingdom of Belgium on May 20. Within the frames of the visit to Brussels the Prime Minister met the European Commission President. After the bilateral meeting Irakli Garibashvili and Jose Manuel Barroso made joint statements for media and answered their questions.
The meeting was held with European Board of Commissioners. The members of the Delegation of Georgia presented the works performed by each agency for signing the association agreement. The agreement on assistance in the frameworks of the EU comprehensive institutional development program was signed.
For the purpose of supporting the EU initiative - "Eastern Partnership" (EaP) priorities the assistance instrument was proposed by the European Commission - comprehensive institutional development program (CIB) which aims to strengthen institutional capacities of partner countries and supporting measures related to association agreement (including "making the agreement on deep and comprehensive free trade area" - DCFTA). The instrument also considers improving activities that are connected to the issues of simplification of visa regime and readmission agreement and migration. Within CIB the budget considered for Georgia for 2011-2013 amounted to 30.86 million Euros. The next stage of the assistance (2014-2020) is particularly related to implementation of DCFTA (deep and comprehensive free trade area).
Within the frames of the visit the Prime Minister of Georgia met the representatives of Harvard Club.
At the end of the visit there was a reception dedicated to the Independence Day of Georgia in the Belgian Royal Museum of Art and History where the Prime Minister of Georgia delivered a speech.
Delegation of Georgia included the Minister of Foreign Affairs Maia Panjikidze, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Minister of Energy Kakhi Kaladze, Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani, State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Aleksi Petriashvili, Minister of Agriculture Shalva Pipia, the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Paata Zakareishvili.
Prime Minister's Press Service