Georgia

Georgia and the European Union have maintained relations since 1996 in the INOGATE framework, and in 2006 a five-year "Action Plan" of rapprochement was implemented in the context of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).

The European Union and Georgia enjoy an excellent relationship. Relations are based on the EU Georgia Association Agreement including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which entered into force in July 2016 and strives for political association and economic integration.

The implementation of the outcomes of the High-level meeting between members of the European Commission and of the Government of Georgia on 21 November 2018, where more than 25 concrete actions were agreed, further reinforcing EU-Georgia cooperation. Through its cooperation and assistance programmes, the EU remains committed to supporting a strong, independent and prosperous Georgia.

Through its ENPARD programme, the EU is modernising Georgian agriculture by supporting the roll out the agriculture cooperative model and providing 1,600 cooperatives with financial and technical support. EU support has also helped establish 59 information and consultation centres around the country, which have trained over 250,000 farmers to date.

To help stabilise the Government’s macro-economic policies, the EU provides macrofinancial assistance to Georgia – a third operation for up to €45 million was initiated in 2018.

The EU also supports large programmes on the environment, green economy, renewable energy and energy efficiency to tackle challenges in Georgia and other neighbouring countries. For example, the EU’s Black Sea Basin Cross-Border Cooperation Programme, brings together municipalities in neighbouring countries to face common challenges such as marine litter.

The EU provides large grants to Georgia for the development of its transport connections, electricity and

water infrastructure, including the East-West highway; large scale water infrastructure in Adjara, Kakheti, or Imereti; and the modernisation of the Enguri dam and other electricity infrastructure across the country.