President Barroso meets Georgian President Saakashvili
Today, President Barroso met President Saakashvili to take stock of the EU-Georgia relations and to discuss the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius.
President Barroso said that he hopes to initiate an Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area component, between the EU and Georgia at the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius.
“Let me say it clearly: the European Union intends to make the Vilnius Summit a success; a success that fully reflects Georgia’s efforts to associate with the European Union … This remarkable achievement will seal Georgia's political association and economic integration with the European Union”, President Barroso said.
Relations between the EU and Georgia started in 1992 just after Georgia regained its sovereignty in the wake of the break-up of the Soviet Union. Bilateral relations have further intensified since the 2003 "rose revolution" which brought to power a new Georgian administration committed to an ambitious programme of political and economic reforms.
“The European Union is determined to keep supporting Georgia in its strategic transformation and in moving forward with an agenda that embraces democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law. Reinforcing Georgia's democracy is of course a particular priority for us”, the President said to the press after the meeting.
President Barroso also congratulated the President-elect of Georgia Mr Guiorgui Margvelashvili, “wishing every success in fulfilling this solemn responsibility” and he thanked President Saakashvili’s “friendship to the European Union”.