Joint press release following the 6th Association council meeting between the European Union and Georgia
The European Union and Georgia held the 6th meeting of the Association council on 16 March 2021.
- The European Union and Georgia held the 6th meeting of the Association council on 16 March 2021.
- The Association council took note of the 2021 Association Implementation Report on Georgia and assessed the state of EU-Georgia relations since the last Association council in March 2019.
- The Association council noted that the elections of 31 October and 21 November 2020 were competitive and that, overall, fundamental freedoms were respected.
- The Association council strongly regretted the deepening political polarisation in Georgia.
- The Association council agreed that it was vital for all actors to continue working, in the EU-supported mediation, to find an early resolution to Georgias political crisis.
- Both sides stressed the need to continue the successful cooperation between the EU and Georgia on strategic communication and countering disinformation.
- The Association council recalled that a great number of Georgian citizens have benefited from short term visa free travel to Schengen countries in recent years.
- The Association council further urged the Russian Federation to provide EUMM access to the whole territory of Georgia, in line with its mandate.
- The Association council also called for access for international humanitarian and human rights mechanisms of relevant international organisations.
- The Association council stressed the importance of ongoing support to people-to-people contacts and confidence building measures across the divides.
- In this respect, the Association council recalled its support for the Georgian peace initiative A Step to a Better Future.