EU-Assoziierungsabkommen mit Georgien - Nachrichten >> P R E S S R E L E A S E - EU and Georgia adopt Association Agenda - eeas.europa.eu Brussels, 26 June – The EU and Georgia have today adopted the EU-Georgia Association Agenda, at a meeting between the chief negotiators, just the day before the historic signature of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement. The Association Agenda establishes a set of jointly agreed priorities for the period 2014-2016 with a view to preparing for the implementation of the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). The Association Agenda replaces the existing EU-Georgia European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan of 2006. It creates an up-to-date practical framework for achieving political association and economic integration between the EU and Georgia. The Association Agenda incorporates political elements, including political dialogue, reforms to strengthen democratic institutions, the rule of law, independence of the judiciary, respect for human rights, cooperation on foreign and security policy as well as peaceful conflict resolution, and cooperation on Justice, Freedom, and Security. The Association Agenda also incorporates economic and trade elements, including a dedicated DCFTA chapter and cooperation in a number of sectors such as energy, transport, employment and social policy. The European Union will support Georgia in a number of ways as it implements the Association Agenda. These include financial support, technical expertise and advice, information sharing, and capacity building. EU-ASSOZIIERUNGSABKOMMEN FÜR GEORGIEN, UKRAINE, MOLDAWIEN UNTERZEICHNET - E.U. ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT EU-Abkommen mit Ukraine, Georgien und Moldau besiegelt - 27.06.2014, deutschlandfunk.de Moldau,
Georgien - und die Ukraine: Drei osteuropäische Staaten rücken näher an
die EU heran. Auf dem Gipfel in Brüssel wurde das historische
Partnerschaftsabkommen mit den Ex-Sowjetrepubliken unterzeichnet. Moskau
reagiert prompt. In Sachen Ukraine setzt die EU ein Ultimatum. Zäsur für Georgien nach dem Russland-Krieg von 2008: Georgien
und Moldau hatten ihrerseits im November ihre Assoziierungs-Abkommen
paraphiert. Auch diese beiden Länder standen nach dem Zerfall der
Sowjetunion schon in Konflikten mit Russland: Im Falle Moldaus geht es
um das abtrünnige Gebiet Transnistrien, das Russland politisch und
wirtschaftlich unterstützt. In Georgien hatten sich die Gebiete
Abchasien und Südossetien von Tiflis losgesagt, was 2008 zu einem Krieg
führte, in den russische Truppen eingriffen. "Dieser
Tag markiert den Beginn einer vollkommen neuen Phase in den Beziehungen
zwischen Georgien und der Europäischen Union", sagte der Regierungschef
des Landes, Irakli Garibashvili. Sein Land habe einen nicht mehr
umkehrbaren Weg in Richtung europäischer Integration gewählt. ... Assoziierungsabkommen Georgien rückt näher an Europa - ...
Mit einem Open-Air-Konzert will Georgien die Unterzeichnung des
Assoziierungsabkommens mit der EU am Freitagabend feiern. Der Ort passt
zum Anlass: der Europaplatz im Zentrum von Tiflis. ... Russlands
Regierung hat sich in den letzten Wochen, anders als im Fall der
Ukraine, nicht zu Georgiens Annäherung an die EU und der bevorstehenden
Unterzeichnung des Assoziierungsabkommens geäußert. ... Doch Oppositionspolitiker Davit Dartschiaschwili traut dem Frieden nicht: „Russland hat Einfluss auf die politische Klasse in Georgien, es hat Leute, die hier die russische Karte spielen können. Russland kann wirtschaftliche Mittel einsetzen, ethnische Minderheiten benutzen oder kriminelle Netzwerke. Gott weiß, welche Taktik Putin anwenden wird." EU-Osterweiterung: Zehn Jahre 10 plus 15 (Deutschlandfunk - Hintergrund - 01.05.2014) - deutschlandfunk.de Russische Drohungen: Georgien reicht dem Westen die Hand (Deutschlandfunk - Aktuell - 24.04.2014) - deutschlandfunk.de Georgien: Wunsch nach Assoziierungsabkommen (Deutschlandfunk - Europa heute - 24.04.2014) - deutschlandfunk.de Russland droht Ukraine mit "ernsthaften Konsequenzen" - 27.06.2014, zeit.de Das
Assoziierungsabkommen zwischen EU und Ukraine ist kaum unterschrieben,
da kommt die Drohung aus Russland: Die Ukraine werde die Folgen spüren.
... Die Folgen der
Unterzeichnung für die Ukraine und Moldau würden "sicherlich ernst
sein", sagte Russlands Vizeaußenminister Grigori Karasin. ... Georgiens
Regierungschef Irakli Garibaschwili: "Blaupause für die europäische
Integration Georgiens". Georgien wolle "ein volles Mitglied der
europäischen Familie werden". Iurie Leanca, Moldawien: "Wir wollen zur
europäischen Familie gehören. Wir wissen, wie anspruchsvoll dieser Weg
sein wird. Aber zweifeln Sie nicht an unserer Entschlossenheit." ... 27.06.2014, Viele
Georgier sehen ihre Zukunft in Europa und nicht in Russland. Ihrem
großen Nachbarn trauen sie nicht. Visafreiheit im Schengenraum könnte
Bewohner der abtrünnigen Gebiete Abchasien und Südossetien locken. ... Unterschiedliche
Vorstellungen über den Umgang mit Russland sind auch einer der vielen
Streitpunkte zwischen dem Regierungsbündnis „Georgischer Traum“ und der
oppositionellen Vereinten Nationalen Bewegung, der bis vor kurzem
Micheil Saakaschwili vorstand, Präsident Georgiens von 2004 bis ins
vorige Jahr. ... Die Annäherung an die EU sieht Petriaschwili, Sondergesandter für die Beziehungen mit Russland, auch
als Weg, um das „Vertrauen“ der Bewohner der abtrünnigen Gebiete
zurückzuerlangen: Er hofft schon für das kommende Jahr auf Visumfreiheit
für Georgien innerhalb des Schengen-Raums. Dann, argumentiert er,
würden für die Menschen in Abchasien und Südossetien georgische Pässe
wieder attraktiv. „Sie haben die Wahl: Integration mit Georgien oder
Isolation.“ ... Giga Bokeria von der Vereinten Nationalen Bewegung wertet
es als „strategischen Fehler“ des Westens, jetzt Putin nicht eine
„strategische Botschaft“ zu senden und Georgien eine klare
Beitrittsperspektive zur Nato zu geben: „Solange
der Kreml seine Haltung zur Souveränität Georgiens nicht ändert,
sollten wir ein Ort der Auseinandersetzung mit Russland sein.“ ... Mit
Hoffnung und Skepsis schauen die Georgier auf Europa. Und auf den
Nachbarn Russland, der die Annäherung zur EU verhindern will. Schon
der erste Europäer war ein Georgier, der sich in Dmanisi, nicht weit
von der heutigen Hauptstadt Tiflis, niederließ. Der Vorfahr des Menschen
kam als Emigrant vor rund 1,7 Millionen Jahren aus Afrika in den
Kaukasus. ... Kaum
ein Georgier wagt, eine klare Prognose über die Reaktion aus Russland
abzugeben. „Wir sind von unserem Nachbarn alles gewöhnt“, meint der Chef
der Denkfabrik GFSIS, Alexander Rondeli. Seit dem Zusammenbruch der
UdSSR vor 23 Jahren wurde georgisches Gebiet besetzt, Krieg entfacht und
mehrfach ein Embargo verhängt. Noch sei Russland nicht bereit, Georgien
aus seinem Einflussbereich zu entlassen. Jeder Fuß Boden, der an die EU falle, sei – im Denken des Kreml – endgültig verloren. ... Rondeli zum
Kreml/Russland: „Wir erklären immer den russischen Staat zum
gewalttätigen Bösewicht und stellen ihm das unschuldige Volk gegenüber“.
Tatsächlich sei aber auch das Volk von jenem Imperialismusvirus
befallen, das den Anrainern das Leben zur Hölle mache. Zeige sich die
Nähe von Volk und Staat nicht gerade in der überwältigenden Zustimmung
zu der Intervention in der Ukraine? ... Moskau
versucht seit anderthalb Jahren, mithilfe der orthodoxen georgischen
Kirche die Stimmung langfristig noch umzukehren, Georgiens
Traditionalisten doch noch für Putins Projekt einer „Internationale der
Reaktion“ zu gewinnen. Aufhänger sind Themen wie gleichgeschlechtliche
Ehe, Sexualkundeunterricht in Schulen – kurzum: westliche Verkommenheit.
... Die Integration
in den Westen sei die Wahl der Georgier gewesen, betont Minister
Petriaschwili. 85 Prozent entschieden sich für EU und Nato. ... Beim Abschlusskonzert letzte Woche am Konservatorium in Tiflis stimmten die Studenten zum Ausklang die EU-Hymne an.
Der ganze Saal erhob sich und sang mit. Er sei überwältigt, sagte ein
zufälliger Gast aus dem alten Europa: von der magischen Kraft der EU als
Hoffnungsträger. Trotz
der andauernden Spannungen mit Russland hat die EU
Assoziierungsabkommen mit der Ukraine, Georgien und Moldawien
geschlossen. Die Unterzeichnungen fanden am Freitag in Brüssel statt.
Die drei Regierungen zeigen sich sehr glücklich, streben aber
längerfristig eine EU-Mitgliedschaft an. «Zukünftige
Generationen in Ukraine, Moldawien und Georgien werden sich an diesen
Tag erinnern», sagte EU-Ratspräsident Herman Van Rompuy auf dem
EU-Gipfel. «Das ist ein grosser Tag für Europa.» ... Die
EU hat den drei Staaten bisher jedoch keine spätere Mitgliedschaft
versprochen. Doch EU-Kommissionspräsident José Manuel Barroso sagte:
«Diese Abkommen bedeuten nicht den Endpunkt der Zusammenarbeit der EU
mit ihren Partnern. Das ist nicht das Ende des Weges, sondern der Beginn
einer Reise, auf die sich die EU und die drei Partner gemeinsam
begeben.» ... Ukraine, Moldova, And Georgia Sign EU Accords - 30.06.2014, rferl.org, mit Video ... Garibashvili
said Abkhazia and South Ossetia -- Georgian breakaway regions
recognized as independent states by Russia -- would also see the
advantages of closer ties with the EU. ... Among other things, the agreements will allow the three countries unfettered access to the EU's market of 500 million consumers. EU signs pacts with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova - 27.06.2014, bbc.com The
pact - which would bind the three countries more closely to the West
both economically and politically - is at the heart of the crisis in
Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin said making Ukraine choose between Russia and the EU would split it in two. Analysis - Steve Rosenberg, BBC News Moscow: There
is a general sense of irritation or perhaps even anger here that Moscow
has failed to convince countries like Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia not
to sign this historic free trade deal today with the EU. Moscow
has economic concerns about these deals - it is worried that the
Russian market could be flooded by cheap goods from the EU that would
hit Russian producers. ... What is Ukraine's association agreement with the EU? - 27.06.2014, reuters.com ... The agreements are the EU's way of extending influence to its neighbors without offering actual membership. ... The
agreements gradually liberalize trade with partners, meaning countries
end up with unfettered access to the 28-nation bloc's 500 million
consumers ... The
EU also provides technical help and funds to help countries adapt to
its regulations and allow businesses to bid for lucrative EU public
works contracts. In
return, the EU requires that countries meet its standards on human
rights and democracy, fight corruption, strengthens the rule of law and
reforms its economy. ... Ukraine,
Moldova and Georgia are also agreeing to considerable domestic reforms
that will challenge entrenched interests among business and the
political class. Georgia's long road to Europe - 27.06.2014, bbc.com Georgia has signed an association agreement with the EU just as its trading ties with Russia are picking up. A
similar path was chosen by Noe Zhordania, the leader of the short-lived
Democratic Republic of Georgia, created after the collapse of the
Russian Empire in 1918. "What
do we have to offer to the cultural treasure of the European nations? A
2,000-year-old national culture, a democratic system and natural
wealth. "Soviet
Russia offered us a military alliance, which we rejected," he said. "We
have taken different paths. They are heading for the East and we for
the West." But his aspirations were halted when in 1921 the Red Army invaded the country and Georgia became a Soviet republic. Almost a century later, many in Georgia regard the EU deal as a historic opportunity. ... But
Tamara Kovziridze, a former lead Georgian negotiator with the EU, says
that in the short term the benefits of this agreement are more likely to
be political than economic. "This
has enormous political relevance. The events in Ukraine have
demonstrated that Russia does worry about EU integration," she said at a
recent public discussion on Georgia-EU relations. ... CHISINAU, Moldova: Russia pressures Moldova and Ukraine ahead of signing of E.U. Association Agreement - 26.06,2014, washingtonpost.com CHISINAU,
Moldova — A new showdown is looming over former Soviet states’ ties to
Europe — the same trigger that has ignited months of violence in
Ukraine. ...
Russia has said it will flex its considerable muscle to squeeze any
nation in the former Soviet orbit that seeks a future with Europe.
Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia are facing intense pressure ahead of the
deal’s signing, including threats of export bans and tightened
immigration rules, as well as the specter of strengthened separatist
movements. But the warnings may be backfiring, with leaders in all three
countries saying Moscow’s ominous tone demonstrates more than ever why
they need to pick a different path. ... BRUSSELS
— Dealing a defiant blow to the Kremlin, President Petro O. Poroshenko
of Ukraine signed a long-delayed trade pact with Europe on Friday that
Moscow had bitterly opposed. He then declared he would like his country
to one day become a full member of the European Union. Georgia and the European Union signed Association Agreement,
including deep and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA), on June 27 in
the margins of the European Council meeting in Brussels. ... The
agreement, which is designed for gradual approximation of signatory
countries to EU standards and regulations in broad range of areas among
them trade, customs procedures and quality controls, does not give a
pledge to eventual membership in the EU; but the reforms and
approximation process, envisaged by the agreement, are viewed as
preparation for potential membership sometime in the future.
... Speaking at the signing ceremony President of the European Council,
Herman Van Rompuy, said: “These are not just any other agreements, but
milestones in history of our relations and for the Europe as a whole. In
Kiev and elsewhere people gave their lives for this closer link to the
European Union.” ... The Georgian Parliament is expected to ratify the agreement in second half of July. Although
it may take several years before all EU-member states ratify the
agreement, the treaty envisages provisional application parts of the
agreement even before EU members and the European Parliament complete
ratification process. ... Following
Georgian ratification of the Association Agreement, provisional
application could start tentatively by October, 2014. ... The
voluminous agreement is accompanied by about three dozen of annexes,
which list hundreds of relevant EU legislation to be taken by Georgia by
a specific date with timeframes ranging from two to ten years. ... In
July the EU plans to adopt new assistance programs for Georgia worth
EUR 101 million to support reforms in the justice sector and
implementation of the DCFTA, as well as to fund programs for small and
medium enterprises. ... Meanwhile
in Moscow, Russian President’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said that
signing of the Association Agreements by Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine
with the EU is their sovereign right, but Russia will have to take
measures if it negatively affects on its economy. ... According
to the EU estimations, Georgian agricultural products will become more
attractive on the EU market after the removal of EU import duties worth
EUR 5.7 million on basic agricultural products and EUR 0.5 million on
processed agricultural products. Georgian
exports to the EU stood at USD 253 million in January-May 2014, a 58%
year-on-year increase, according to the Georgian state statistics
office, Geostat. Georgian
exports to CIS-member countries in January-May 2014 stood at USD 627.6
million of which Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia were Georgia’s largest
exporting markets with USD 240.4 million, USD 129.7 million and USD
108.3 million, respectively. Schritte bis zum Abkommen: European
Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, arrived in Georgia on
Thursday after visiting Moldova, to reiterate support as Tbilisi, along
with Chisinau, will sign the Association Agreement with the EU on June
27. Speaking
at a news conference after meeting Georgian President Giorgi
Margvelashvili, Barroso said that the EU is ready to engage in
discussions with Russia if the latter has concerns and wants to
“clarify” some of the aspects of the Association Agreement, which also
includes deep and comprehensive free trade treaty. ... Barroso stressed: “The
European Union is imposing nothing on Georgia. Georgia has made a
choice and we are here to support the choice of Georgia.” ... The
European Commission President said that Georgia “belongs to the
European family of nations” and the best way for Georgia to achieve
approximation with the EU is to continue reforms. He
said that Georgia has been a “frontrunner” in EU’s Eastern Partnership
“thanks to the commitment of the successive governments.” ... Barroso
also said that it’s important to avoid “excessive polarization”, which
can be detrimental to the “good image that Georgia has in terms of being
frontrunner in the Eastern Partnership.” ... The
Georgian President awarded the European Commission President Barroso
with the Order of the Golden Fleece “for firm support to Georgia’s
national interests on the international arena and for contribution to
development of the EU-Georgia relations.” ... It
is Georgia’s sovereign right to sign the Association Agreement with the
EU, but it should also understand possible consequences, Russian
Foreign Ministry spokesman, Alexander Lukashevich, said on May 22 and
pointed at increasing Georgian exports to Russia. ... Georgia
aims at being “a leader in both reforms and integration” with Europe,
President Giorgi Margvelashvili told the Eastern Partnership summit in
Vilnius and called for a donors’ conference next year to support Georgia
on its path of closer political and economic association with the EU.
... The declaration also reads that the participants “stress the need of
the full implementation of the 12 August 2008 ceasefire agreement and
the importance of the presence of the EUMM in Georgia. Participants
emphasize the need of the full implementation of the mandate of the EUMM
and reiterate their support for the Geneva International Discussions.”
... Politicians in Tbilisi from both the ruling and opposition parties
were praising initialling of the AA/DCFTA as a “historic” moment for
Georgia with UNM lawmakers stressing that it was the result of the work
of the previous administration which was then continued by the new one.
Some government ministers, in particular the Foreign Minister as well as
Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani, have also acknowledged the role of the
previous administration in this process. ... Georgia, EU Initial Association Agreement - 28.11.2013, Civil Georgia Georgia’s
Association Agreement (AA) with the EU, also including deep and
comprehensive free trade treaty (DCFTA), was technically initialed in
Vilnius on November 28 on the first day of the Eastern Partnership
summit. A
formal ceremony of initialing of 1,000-page AA/DCFTA will take place on
the second day of the summit, November 29, with participation of
Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze and Economy Minister Giorgi
Kvirikashvili, as well as EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and
EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht. Georgian leadership says its “ambitious goal” is to have AA/DCFTA signed by September, 2014. ... - 25.07.2013, Civil GeorgiaMargvelashvili: Georgia Sticks with its 'Ambitious Plan' to Sign AA with EU Next Year - 22.11.2013, Civil Georgia No
matter of difficulties that country may face, Georgia will remain
committed to its “ambitious plan” to sign the Association Agreement with
the EU within a year after it will be initialed at the Eastern
Partnership summit in Vilnius next week, President Margvelashvili said
on November 22. “The
Georgian society, the Georgian political spectrum are united that
Georgia is a member of the European family. We have explicitly stressed
that this is an issue over which the Georgian society is consolidated,
therefore we will together overcome any difficulty or challenge that we
may face and the ambitious plan that we have – to sign the Association
Agreement within a year after initialing – remains the main strategy of
our government,” Margvelashvili told journalists while visiting a
military base in Vaziani outside Tbilisi. ... New secretary of National
Security Council, Irina Imerlishvili, said after initialing of the
Association Agreement Georgia will “cooperate intensively” with Western
partners to have this agreement signed within a year. ... EU Hails 'Substantive Completion' of Association Agreement Talks with Georgia - 22.07.2013, Civil Georgia EU
foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Commissioner for Enlargement
and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle welcomed “the substantive
completion” of the negotiations on the future Association Agreement
between the EU and Georgia, which also includes establishment of a Deep
and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). ... EU, Georgia Making 'Good Progress' in Association Agreement, Visa Liberalization Talks - 03.09.2012, Civil Georgia “We
wish to reaffirm that Georgia is an important partner for the European
Union and we are committed to further deepening our very dynamic
relations,” EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Štefan Füle, EU
Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood said in a joint
statement. ... President
Saakashvili said the European Parliament’s resolution on Georgia, which
is calling on key EU institutions to recognize Abkhazia and South
Ossetia as “occupied territories”, “is a historic” document, which
“creates legal basis for irreversible unification of Georgia.” “This
resolution is important and decisive in our struggle for Georgia’s
eventual liberation, de-occupation and European future from several
points of view. First, what is the most important in this resolution is
that it clearly reflects that Russia carries out illegal military
occupation of Georgia’s regions,” Saakashvili said. ... The
second issue on which Saakashvili emphasized was the part of the
resolution which says that “ethnic cleansing and forcible demographic
changes have taken place in the areas under the effective control of the
occupying force.” ... Saakashvili
also said that with this resolution “a very important stage has been
crowned on which we have been working since the war” with Russia in
August, 2008. “After
the Stalin era, Russia has invaded a neighboring country for the first
time, but failed to fully occupy this country and overthrow its
government,” Saakashvili said. “This
is unimaginable geopolitical knock over from the Russia’s perspective.
With its unity, firmness and willingness to resist, the Georgian people
have actually made a miracle,” he said, adding that “huge courage of our
people triggers admiration of the European people” causing their
support towards the small nation. European Parliament Resolution - Negotiations of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement - 18.11.2011, Civil Georgia European
Parliament resolution of 17 November, 2011 containing the European
Parliament's recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the EEAS
on the negotiations of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement
(2011/2133(INI)) EU Offers Close Partnership to its Six Neighbors - 04.12.2008, Civil Georgia European
Union has unveiled an Eastern Partnership initiative offering deeper
ties to six eastern European states, including Georgia, but not an
eventual membership. European
Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso and Commissioner for External
Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said at a news conference in
Brussels on December 3, that the bloc planned to allocate total of EUR
600 million for the period of 2010 and 2013 for this “ambitious
initiative.” EUR 350 million will be a fresh funding, while the rest
will come as a result of redeployment of funds from already existing
EU’s aid projects in the region. The
Eastern Partnership, which targets Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, aims at upgrading EU’s political
engagement with these countries in number of areas, including the
prospect for association agreements, integration into the EU economy and
easier travel to the EU. European
Commission President Barroso said that the August war in Georgia
prompted European Union to act in this direction. He, however, repeated
for several times during the press conference that the initiative “does
not aim at building spheres of influence, drawing any kind of new
division line in Europe.” Barroso said that the initiative was a demonstration of the European Union’s “soft power.” “Stability
and prosperity in the 21st century will be brought about by economics,
not by missiles; by dialogue, not by demonstration of force; by
partnerships and multilateralism and not by unilateralism,” he said. He
said that Eastern Partnership was a way towards “association
agreements” with those partners which seek “much closer relationship
with the European Union; the prospective of deep and comprehensive free
trade area; the prospective of mobility and security pact to improve
mobility of citizens in a more secure space and also progress in energy
security.” Benita
Ferrero-Waldner said that the initiative, which she said was EU’s
important political investment, would be “flexible and tailored to each
partner’s needs and capacity.” “In
each case the European Union will seek to offer the maximum possible,
given of course political realities and the state of reform process in
the partner country concerned,” she said. The Easter Partnership, she said, would go ahead both in bilateral and multilateral directions. In
frames of bilateral direction, the initiative envisages the
Comprehensive Institutions Building Program, through which EU will
identify “weak spots” in each of the partner state and then tackle those
weaknesses “through training, technical assistance and equipment where
necessary” to achieve much needed reform targets. Also
in the bilateral track, the Eastern Partnership will offer so called
association agreements to those partner states, “who meet the essential
conditions of the Neighborhood Policy,” Ferrero-Waldner said. That would
also include deep and comprehensive free trade agreement for those
willing and ready to take on commitments with the EU that this agreement
entails. EU
will also encourage in frames of the initiative to develop a free trade
network between the partners states which could in the longer term join
up into a so called Neighbourhood Economic Community. The
multilateral approach involves helping partner countries to get closer
to EU standards. “They [all six partner states] have different
objectives and state of development, but the EU standards they are
trying to approach are indeed the same for all of them,” she said. In
this regard, she continued, EU was offering five major initiatives, so
called “flagship initiatives” that involves border management programs;
programs for small and medium-size enterprises; integration of
electricity markets, energy efficiency and renewable energy; developing
plans for a Southern Energy Corridor and response to disasters. The
European Commission said in a statement that European Neighborhood
Policy has been an important platform and the backbone of EU-Georgia
relations; “however, the conflict in Georgia in August 2008 has shown
the need for deeper and more intensive EU involvement in the South
Caucasus region, with a need of stronger regional cooperation.” In
November, EU decided to start visa facilitation talks with Georgia;
talks will also involve matters related with readmission agreement with
Georgia. It is an EU’s practice to oblige countries to sign a
re-admission agreement in exchange for granting them visa facilitation. The
European Commission also said that Ukraine, which has already been
offered association agreement, is “a front-runner among our Eastern
partners and already has close bilateral relations with the EU.” | EU-Assoziierungsabkommen mit Georgien - Inhalte >> ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT - eeas.europa.eu/georgia/ between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part ++++ The Association Agreement in a nutshell: >The Association Agreement (AA) aims to deepen political and economic relations between Georgia and the EU, and to gradually integrate Georgia into the EU Internal Market-the largest single market in the world. This includes the setting up of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which is a core part of the Agreement. > The AA is a concrete way to activate the potential of EU-Georgian relations, focusing on support to core reforms, on economic recovery and growth, governance and sector cooperation. > The AA constitutes a reform agenda for Georgia, based around a comprehensive programme of Georgia’s approximation of its legislation to EU norms, around which all partners of Georgia can align themselves and focus their assistance. > The AA negotiations were not a stand-alone exercise. EU assistance to Georgia is linked with the reform agenda as it emerges from the result of negotiations. ++++ Basic principles: The EU-Georgia Association Agreement is part of a new generation of Association Agreements with Eastern Partnership countries and provides a long-term foundation for future EU-Georgia relations without excluding any possible future developments in line with the Treaty on European Union. From the outset, it was agreed that the Agreement should take an ambitious and innovative approach, include a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and go qualitatively beyond the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) wherever possible. It contains binding, rule-based provisions and cooperation developed further than in traditional agreements and it is wide-ranging, covering all areas of interest. Special attention has been given to implementation and subsequent enforcement issues, including clear timelines and the establishment of an appropriate administrative and institutional structure, so as to create the necessary predictability for economic operators. ++++ Key elements: This ambitious and pioneering Agreement represents a concrete way to exploit the dynamics in EU-Georgia relations, focusing on support to core reforms, on economic recovery and growth, governance and sector cooperation in areas such as, for example, energy, transport, environment protection, industrial and small and medium enterprise cooperation, social development and protection, equal rights, consumer protection, education, training and youth as well as cultural cooperation. Key elements include: > Values and Principles: : common values, namely democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as the rule of law, a market economy and sustainable development; > Enhanced cooperation in foreign and security policy, with the focus on regional issues, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), non-proliferation and disarmament, conflict prevention, and crisis management; > A DCFTA, which goes significantly further than classical forms of economic integration, offering not only improved trade and investment opportunities but also assistance in trade-related reforms with the aim to contribute to economic recovery and growth and to better integration of the Georgian economy with the world markets; > Justice, Freedom and Security, covering the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, protection of personal data, cooperation on migration, the fight against money laundering and terrorism, illicit drugs, and the fight against organised crime and corruption; > Enhanced cooperation in some 28 key sector policy areas, including in the fields of: economic dialogue; management of public finances and financial control; taxation; statistics; transport; energy cooperation; environment; climate action; industrial and enterprise policy and mining; company law, accounting and auditing and corporate governance; financial services; cooperation in the field of information society; tourism; agriculture and rural development; fisheries and maritime governance; cooperation in research, technological development and demonstration; consumer policy; employment, social policy and equal opportunities; public health; education, training and youth; cooperation in the cultural field; cooperation in the audiovisual and media fields; cooperation in the field of sport and physical activity; civil society cooperation; regional development, cross-border and regional level cooperation; civil protection based on gradual approximation with the EU acquis and also – where relevant – with international norms and standards. ++++ How will citizens benefit from the Association Agreement? Once signed and implemented, concrete benefits can flow from the Agreement. Examples include the better protection of consumers through the higher quality and improved safety of locally-grown agricultural products; better business opportunities for small- and medium-sized enterprises through the opening of markets; better access to improved health services; and energy savings thanks to more efficient use of energy resources and the development of renewable energy sources; a better functioning judiciary and thanks to the strengthened rule of law, demanding accountability rules for public decision-makers and increased transparency. ++++ State of Play and content of the Association Agreement On 29 November 2013 the EU and Georgia initialled the text of the Association Agreement, which included provisions on the establishment of a DCFTA as an integral part. Both sides expressed their common commitment to undertake further technical steps, required to prepare the Association Agreement, including the DCFTA for signature. The EU-Georgia Association Agreement counts about 1000 pages and is comprised of: > 8 Titles which concern General Principles; Political Dialogue and Reform, Cooperation in the Field of Foreign and Security Policy; Justice, Freedom and Security; Economic Cooperation; Other Cooperation Policies; Trade and Trade-related Matters (DCFTA); Financial Assistance and Anti-Fraud and Control Provision as well as Institutional, General and Final Provisions; > 34 Annexes laying down the relevant EU legislation to be taken over by a specific date; and > 3 Protocols. Östliche Partnerschaft - Eastern partnership >> Die Staaten der Östlichen Partnerschaft: Ukraine, Moldau, Georgien, Belarus, Armenien und Aserbaidschan Mit der Östlichen Partnerschaft werden die Beziehungen der EU zu ihren direkten Nachbarn auf eine neue Grundlage gestellt und in allen Bereichen ausgebaut. Deutschland und die Europäische Union haben ein besonderes Interesse an den Entwicklungen in ihrer unmittelbaren Nachbarschaft. Unter dem Dach der europäischen Nachbarschaftspolitik (engl. European Neighborhood Policy, ENP) fördert die EU deshalb die politische, wirtschaftliche und gesellschaftliche Annäherung mit den Nachbarstaaten, ebenso wie die Beziehungen der Nachbarstaaten untereinander. Im Jahr 2009 haben Deutschland und seine europäischen Partner gemeinsam mit den Nachbarstaaten Ukraine, Moldau, Georgien, Belarus, Armenien und Aserbaidschan die "Östliche Partnerschaft" ins Leben gerufen (Prag, 7. Mai 2009). Die EU-Staats- und Regierungschefs hatten die Gründung auf ihrem Gipfel am 19./20 März 2009 beschlossen, um die politische Assoziierung und die wirtschaftliche Integration mit den genannten östlichen Nachbarstaaten voranzubringen. ... Die Östliche Partnerschaft ist das ambitionierteste Angebot zur Zusammenarbeit, innerhalb der Nachbarschaftspolitik der EU. Sie fußt zunächst auf dem Abschluss umfangreicher Assoziierungsabkommen mit der EU, deren Bestandteil "tiefe und umfassende" Freihandelsabkommen (deep and comprehensive free trade agreements, DCFTA) sind. Die Assoziierungsabkommen werden die bestehenden und teilweise veralteten Partnerschafts- und Kooperationsabkommen (PKA) mit den Partnern ersetzen und die Beziehungen zur EU auf eine neue Grundlage stellen. Sie werden seit 2010 mit allen östlichen Partnern außer Belarus verhandelt. ... Wer steuert die Östliche Partnerschaft? Treffen der Staats- und Regierungschefs der Östlichen Partnerschaft finden alle zwei Jahre statt. Diese Gipfeltreffen dienen der politischen Steuerung. Nach dem Prager Gründungsgipfel 2009 konzentrierte sich der zweite Gipfel am 29. und 30. September 2011 in Warschau vor allem auf die weitere Ausgestaltung der Partnerschaft: So wurde unter anderem eine Intensivierung der Zusammenarbeit in den Bereichen Wirtschaft und Handel vereinbart. Litauen war am 28./29. November 2013 in Wilna Gastgeber des dritten Gipfels der Östlichen Partnerschaft, der Gipfel 2015 wird in Riga stattfinden. Treffen der Außenminister der Östlichen Partnerschaft finden jährlich statt, zuletzt am 22. Juli 2013 in Brüssel, mit deutscher Beteiligung. Deutschland setzt sich auch in anderen Formaten im Kreis der besonders engagierten EU-Mitglieder für eine Weiterentwicklung der Östlichen Partnerschaft ein. Der Europäische Auswärtige Dienst (EAD) hat das Mandat für die Verhandlungsführung erhalten und setzt im Rahmen der politischen Vorgaben gemeinsam mit der Europäischen Kommission die Östliche Partnerschaft EU-seitig um. - Gemeinsame Gipfelerklärung von Wilna (PDF, 180 KB) - Gemeinsame EU-Armenien-Erklärung (PDF, 535 KB) - Gemeinsame Erklärung des Prager Gipfeltreffens zur Östlichen Partnerschaft vom 7. Mai 2009 - Gemeinsame Erklärung des Gipfels der Östlichen Partnerschaft, Warschau, 30. 9. 2011 (Englisch) PDF | 82 KB - Roadmap vom 15. Mai 2012 - Fahrplan der Östlichen Partnerschaft bis zum Gipfel 2013 PDF | 103 KB - Implementierungsbericht zur Östlichen Partnerschaft 2012 PDF | 116 KB - Flyer der EU-Kommission zum Stand der Östlichen Partnerschaft, November 2013 (in englischer Sprache) PDF | 788 KB Politische Beziehungen Deutschland war das erste Land der Europäischen Gemeinschaft, das Georgien nach der Unabhängigkeit 1991 am 23. März 1992 völkerrechtlich anerkannte und am 13. April 1992 diplomatische Beziehungen aufnahm. Deutschland hat 1992 als erster Staat eine Botschaft in Georgien eröffnet. Die engen und vertrauensvollen Beziehungen zwischen Deutschen und Georgiern haben eine fast 200-jährige Tradition, die zurückgeht auf die Einwanderung schwäbischer Bauern ab 1817. In Deutschland bleibt der Anteil des früheren sowjetischen Außenministers und späteren Präsidenten Georgiens Schewardnadse an der deutschen Wiedervereinigung unvergessen. Deutschland wiederum genießt in Georgien Ansehen und Sympathie. Die erheblichen entwicklungspolitischen Leistungen der Bundesregierung ebenso wie auch die vielfältigen kulturellen, akademischen und persönlichen Kontakte werden in der georgischen Gesellschaft sehr geschätzt. Deutschland war als Koordinator der Freundesgruppe des Generalsekretärs der Vereinten Nationen seit langem intensiv um eine friedliche Konfliktlösung für die abtrünnige georgische Republik Abchasien bemüht. Bundeskanzlerin Merkel besuchte wenige Tage nach dem Ende des georgisch-russischen Krieges im August 2008 Tiflis. Deutschland zählte zu den ersten Staaten, die Georgien nach Ausbruch des Krieges Hilfe für humanitäre Projekte zugunsten der Opfer und Vertriebenen und zur Unterstützung des Wiederaufbaus im Land leisteten. Deutschland beteiligt sich auch aktiv an der EU-Beobachtermission (EUMM). Im Rahmen der Europäischen Union setzt sich Deutschland für eine Annäherung Georgiens und der Region insgesamt an Europa ein. Deutschland hat die Aufnahme von Georgien, Armenien und Aserbaidschan in die europäische Nachbarschaftspolitik sowie die EU-Entscheidung zur Schaffung einer Östlichen Partnerschaft aktiv unterstützt. Die Bundesregierung fördert die Integration der Gesamtregion auch durch die deutsche Kaukasus-Initiative im Rahmen der deutschen Entwicklungszusammenarbeit. ... |
Politik - politics >