EUGBC Secretary General Kote Zaldastanishvili and Member of EUGBC Board Geir Westgaard participated in the 5th international Conference - Georgia’s European Way – ENP AP Implementation in Georgia

Since 2007 the Office of the State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration organizes regular semi-annual conferences in order to demonstrate progress, achievements and challenges of the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan (ENP AP) implementation process in Georgia, which enable both the Government and its European partners to have an active dialogue on all the ENP AP issues.

The 5^th international conference entitled The European Way of Georgia - Georgia’s European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan Implementation was held in Batumi on July 3-4, 2009. Nika Gilauri - Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Baramidze - State Minister for Integration in Europe and European Structures, Hugues Mingarelli - Deputy Director-General, DG RELEX, the European commission, Štefan Füle - Minister for European Affairs of the Czech Republic and Johan Frisell – Director, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, on behalf of the Swedish Presidency opened the conference.

The high ranking officials of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the authority, representatives of the EU Member States and European Commission, the diplomatic corps accredited in Georgia, NGOs, academics and members of the media took part in the conference. EUGBC was represented at the Conference by the Secretary General, Kote Zaldastanishvili and Member of EUGBC Board, Geir Westgaard.

A number of Ministers and other high authorities of Georgia delivered presentations at the conference: Konstantine Kublashvili – Chairman of the Supreme Court of Georgia, Lasha Zhvania – Minister of Economic Development of Georgia (presentation see attached), Dimitri Shashkin – Minister for Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia, David Jalagania – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dimitri Dzagnidze – Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia    

Three thematic sessions were held in the framework of the conference:

Democratic Reforms Session, which focused on the new wave of democratic reforms aimed at enhancing the role of parliament and independence of the judiciary, improving freedom of media and protection of property rights, further elaboration of the electoral legislation, protecting human rights and reinforcing the rule of law.

Economic Reforms Session that discussed the Prospects of deep and comprehensive FTA with the EU, impact of the global financial crisis on the Georgian economy, GoG priorities.

EU’s Eastern Partnership Session that examined the Bilateral and multilateral cooperation, thematic cooperation platforms: Democracy, good governance and stability; Economic integration and convergence with EU policies; Energy security; Contacts between people.

Geir Westgaard, Member of EUGBC Board delivered a speech at the economic reforms session. In his speech, Mr. Westgaard provided a general overview on the EUGBC, its activities and role in developing economic relations between EU and Georgia.

At the conference, the brochure: Certification of the live animals, products of animal origin, poultry, meat of poultry and eggs exported to the European Union market from third countries, published by EUGBC was presented and distributed to the participants of the conference.

Attached please see the Conference Program, List of Participants and the Georgia’s Progress Report on Implementation of the ENP Action Plan in the first half of 2009.