Today, the Co-Chairs of the PAC – the Chair of the EU Integration Committee, Tamar Khulordava and the MEP, Sajjad Karim presided on the 8th PAC sitting and discussed EUAA implementation, democratic reforming in Georgia, human rights state, DCFTA prospects, agriculture and cooperation in energy.

The PAC gave the positive assessment to the activity of Georgia for 2014-2018, and especially the EUAA and DCFTA, as well as visa free travel already enjoyed by more than 300 000 Georgian citizens.

“For the last 4-5 years, Georgia has been through the long EU approximation path. In 2014, we signed EUAA and DCFTA. Since 2017, Georgian citizens enjoy visa free travel and more than 300 000 Georgian citizens traveled visa free to EU with significant contribution by the European Parliament. EU has become the key trade partner to Georgia and the 1/3 of Georgian expert enters the EU market. Georgia accessed the Energy Union and signed the agreements with Europol and EuroJust allowing cooperation in countering trans-border and organized crime. Unfortunately, all these positive factors occur against the background of occupation of Georgian territories, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali but we are not along confronting these challenges. We highly value EU intact support to our territorial integrity, sovereignty and non-recognition policy. The EU Resolution supporting Georgia is particularly important adopted in June, 2018 by the EP”, - T. Khulordava noted.

It is the last sitting of the PAC with this composition.

“It is the last sitting with this composition and we are glad to see the progress achieved by Georgia with EU cooperation. The Resolution on Georgia, enhancement of the political and economic integration, EU cooperation roadmap, activities of Georgian Government are noteworthy to prevent threat to visa free travel. The EP Resolution on the occupied territories of Georgia is as well important with which we support territorial integrity of Georgia”, - S. Karim stated.

The State Minister for Reconciliation, Ketevan Tsikhelashvili reported on the current situation on the occupied territories and the peace-keeping policy of the Government. She touched upon the murder of Irakli Kvaratskhelia and illegal detentions.

The Deputy Foreign Minister, Vakhtang Makharoblishvili and the Deputy Director of the International Relations Department, Nino Gakharia spoke about the counter-steps to challenges. “Visa free travel for Georgia is the important message by EU. This process is being monitored from the very first day by the Government to prevent the threat to visa free travel of Georgian citizens to Schengen”, - V. Makharoblishvili stated.

The Deputy Economic Minister, Natia Turnava spoke about accession of Georgia to Energy Union.

The Deputy Public Defender, Giorgi Burjanadze introduced the human rights state in Georgia.

The PAC made the joint statement and the joint recommendations reflecting all important issues for Georgia:

• Welcomes the continuous deepening of EU-Georgia relations; reiterates its unwavering support for Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration and praises Georgia’s steady progress on this chosen path; notes with satisfaction that these aspirations go beyond party lines and are supported by the overwhelming majority of its citizens; recalls that, pursuant to Article 49 TEU, and in line with the Rome Declaration of 25 March 2017, any European State may apply to become a member of the European Union, provided that it upholds the Copenhagen criteria; recalls the proposal of an “Eastern Partnership Plus” (EaP+) policy advocated by the European Parliament so as to unlock additional, intermediary perspectives on the path towards full EU membership;
• PAC affirms that the new high level dialogue held in November, 2018 by the Georgian Prime Minister and EC President is important for EU approximation and the new high level dialogue on security issues between the partners;
• PAC gives the positive assessment to EUAA and DCFTA implementation by Georgia resulting the EU as the key partner to Georgia;
• PAC positively estimates efforts of Georgian Government for uninterrupted visa free regime, approves the new legislative regulations, close cooperation with the European appeal and customs agencies and public awareness campaigns;
• PAC positive estimates commitment of Georgia for enhancement of energy safety in the region and approves development of new transport links between Europe and Georgia;
• PAC gives positive assessment to efforts of the Parliament and active engagement in EU approximation and oversight on EUAA implementation by the Government, approves the new Rules of Procedure enhancing efficiency of the Parliamentary oversight;
• PAC affirms intact support to territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia, condemns Russian aggression and supports peaceful resolution of the process, as well as approves the Governmental policy for improvement of the conditions of the citizens including in Abkhazia and South Ossetia;

PAC holds the next sitting in Tbilisi in the end of 2019.