Georgia's Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze, who is a leader of the ruling coalition Georgian Dream, said he is convinced that Georgia will become a full-fledged member of the European community in the nearest future.
“The signing of the association agreement with the EU is very
important to us. We will do everything to make our country a
full-fledged member of the European community,” Kaladze told reporters
on Tuesday.
Commenting on the recent statement issued by the EU in regard of the
signing of the association agreement with Georgia and Moldova, which is
scheduled for June 27, and the completion of this process with Ukraine,
he said that “it is an important issue, both for the EU and for these
countries.”
“This shows once again that Europe backs our country on this path,” he said.
The EU statement says that “the purpose of the association agreement
is to develop political and economic relations between the EU and other
participants and their gradual integration with the internal EU market,
which is one of the largest in the world.”
The EU says the association agreement with Georgia will promote the
development of trade and investment. “It is especially important for
Georgia, which needs more foreign investment for its economic growth.
The EU market will be accessible to Georgian enterprises without a
transition period,” the statement says.
The statement says that additional benefits for Georgia depend on the
realization of reforms, which will help the Georgian economy better
integrate into the world market. The EU statement alleges that the
implementation of these reforms will lead to annual economic growth of
4.3 percent.
