Tbilisi. Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius may become
crucial in relations between Georgia and the European Union, European
Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Stephan Fule stated at the
10th international conference Georgia's European Way on Friday, July 12.
"We are at the very important stage
of Georgia-EU relations, we are to finish long lasting talks on the Associated
Agreement. This is of great importance for Georgian nationals and for relations
between the countries. Signing of this agreement will bring closer Georgia to
EU. This path leads to the Vilnius Summit, which may become crucial in
relations with Georgia", Fule stressed.
The European Commissioner disproved rumors
that Georgia had turned off the way of integration into European and
Euro-Atlantic structures.
"There are two myths about Georgia's
Euro-Atlantic course that do not correspond to reality. The first is that
allegedly Georgia has small chances for success at the Vilnius Summit and that
after the election in October (parliamentary) Georgia will not adhere to the
Euro-Atlantic course. The second is that it does not matter how the state works
on the heritage of the past and EU is not active in these processes. That's not right", Fule noted.
In 2010 the Council of Foreign Ministers
of 27 states of the European Union approved frames of talks and granted the
European Commission a mandate for holding talks on bilateral association
agreements between EU and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The associated
agreements will replace acting bilateral agreements on partnership and
cooperation.
The talks on signing of the Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and the Associated Agreement have been held
between EU and Georgia in the framework of Eastern Partnership. Official
Tbilisi expects initialing of the EU-Georgia Associated Agreement at the
Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, which will be held on November
28-29.