At the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels, the European Union highlighted the aassociation trio initiative between Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine in the Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit, which calls on the EU and the aspirants to explore new opportunities for “enhanced sectoral cooperation.”
The Eastern Partnership, launched in 2009, is a joint initiative of the EU member states and their Eastern European partners. The Joint Declaration acknowledges the European aspirations and the European choice of Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova as stated in the Association Agreements with the European Union, while also covering areas that include green and digital transitions connectivity, energy security, justice, strategic communications, and health care, among others.
After the Summit, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said that Georgia is being ‘diligent’ on its EU integration path. Garibashvili met with EU leaders, including Council President Charles Michel, and discussed Georgia’s reform agenda on the country’s EU integration path. “Honored to participate at the EaP Summit 2021! Huge event for Georgia shaping the future of our partnership with EU and engaging in substantive discussions on how to proceed with the EU integration. Looking forward to developing a new chapter of our integration with the EU!,” the PM tweeted.
Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani also noted that the European Union formally recognized the Association Trio format for the first time, stating that, “for the first time there is a reference to the trio format, which indicates that our European partners recognize this format as an already established framework for cooperation. It opens up multiple prospects for future cooperation for this trio.”
The document, signed by the leaders of the Eastern Partner states, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as heads of EU member states and EU representatives, recognizes that “the EU’s conditionality and incentive-based approach will continue to benefit those partners most engaged in implementing reforms.” Moving forward, Georgia and the other members of the Association Trio have committed themselves to reforms that will further align their countries with European values, which will continue to be guided by the input and assistance of the pact’s western partners and eventually lead to EU and NATO ascension.