Immediately after gaining independence, Georgia made its strategic choice – joining the European Union is one of the main priorities of our country’s foreign policy.

European Union and Georgia

Georgia, with its values, has always been an integral part of European civilization, its geographical, cultural and historical space.

Immediately after gaining independence, Georgia made its strategic choice and defined the European and Euro-Atlantic integration as the only path of the country’s development. The history of cooperation between the European Union and Georgia goes back more than a quarter- century, and today we are closer to the European Union than ever before.

Today, integration into the common European space is an unchanged vector of Georgia’s foreign policy.

In detail

Association Agreement

Association Agreement is a document on bilateral relations, based on the partnership of the parties, their needs and opportunities for mutual assistance. The Agreement describes in detail the country’s development plan according to European standards, the implementation of which, Georgia will be transformed into a country compatible with EU standards.

The document deals with the mandatory reforms (in the area of human rights, the rule of law, the fight against corruption and transnational organized crime, etc.) that will bring peace and stability to the country. One of the most important components of the Agreement is the EU-Georgia Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), which has opened up the European Union market for goods and services produced in Georgia.

In detail

Partnership History

Cooperation between Georgia and the European Union began in 1992, when the European Union recognized Georgia as an independent state. Initially, partnership was confined mainly to humanitarian and technical assistance which has been deepened subsequently, and today Georgia is an associated country of the European Union, enjoying an unlimited access to the European Union market and benefitting from visa-free travel to the countries of the European Union/Schengen area.

In detail

Important Dates

On the 14th of December, 2023, the European Council granted the status of candidate country to Georgia.

2022 – On 23 June 2022, the European Council made a decision to open European perspective for Georgia – which means granting the status of candidate country to Georgia. With this decision, Georgia-EU relations moved to a completely new and qualitatively higher level.

On 9-11 February 2021,  Georgia begins talks with the European Union on financial assistance for 2021-2027.

On 9 February 2021, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy published an annual 2020 Association Implementation Report on Georgia, which details the reforms implemented in the country in a number of areas.

The 6th Association council meeting between the European Union and Georgia was held on 16 March 2021.

On 4 August 2021, the European Commission published the 4th report under the visa suspension mechanism. The report emphasizes that the visa-free travel brings positive economic, social and cultural benefits to both partners and members of the European Union.

On 16 September 2020, European Parliament resolution on the implementation of the EU Association Agreement with Georgia was reviewed at the plenary session of the European Parliament. The resolution was approved by the European Parliament with 552 votes for.

On 13 October 2020, high-ranking officials of the Eastern Partnership held a meeting by video-conference.

On 19 October 2020, the presentation of the revised EU–Georgia Association Agenda for the period 2021-2027 was held in the vide-conference format

On 15 December 2020, the sixth session of the EU-Georgia Association Committee was held online.

On 5 March 2019, the fifth session of the EU-Georgia Association Council took place in Brussels.

On 5 February 2018, the fourth session of the EU-Georgia Association Council took place in Brussels.

On 15 October 2018, the ninth meeting of the Eastern Partnership Foreign Ministerial Meeting took place in Luxembourg.

On 21 November 2018, the first high-level meeting took place in Brussels with the participation of members of the Georgian government and the European Commission.

On 10-12 December 2018, the 10th Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum took place in Tbilisi.

On 28 March 2017, visa-free travel to the EU/Schengen area officially came into force for Georgian nationals. From 28 March, Georgian nationals with biometric passport can travel visa-free to the EU/Schengen Area and stay for 90 days in any 180-day period.

On 1 July 2017, Georgia officially became a full member of the Energy Community (on 14 October 2016, Georgia signed the Protocol concerning the  Accession of Georgia to the Treaty Establishing the Energy Community, which entered into force on 1 July 2017).

On 5-6 October 2017, a high-level delegation of the Political and Security Committee (PSC) visited Georgia.

On 11 October 2017, the first high-level EU-Georgia strategic dialogue took place in Tbilisi.

On 20 November 2017, Georgia and the European Union approved the revised EU–Georgia Association Agenda for the period 2021-2027. The new document was developed based on the Association Agenda for 2014-2016 and it sets forth the priorities agreed between Georgia and the European Union, which are to be fulfilled in the process of implementation of the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). The new agenda is more ambitious and allows Georgia to get as close as possible to EU standards and norms by 2020.

On 24 November 2017, Brussels hosted the fifth Eastern Partnership summit where the parties adopted a joint declaration.

On 1 July 2016, the Association Agreement between the European Union and Georgia fully entered into force.

On 21-22 May 2015, Riga hosted the fourth Eastern Partnership Summit where the parties adopted a joint declaration.

On 2 June 2015, the first session of the EU-Georgia Association Committee took place in Tbilisi within the framework of the EU-Georgia political dialogue.

On 16 November 2015, Brussels hosted the second meeting of the EU-Georgia Association Council.

On 18 December 2015, the European Commission published the European Commission’s Fourth Progress Report on Georgia’s Implementation of the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization. According to the European Commission, Georgia fulfilled all the requirements set in the four blocks of the second phase on the visa liberalization and successfully completed the technical process of visa liberalization.

In December 2015, EU Member States completed the ratification procedures of the EU–Georgia Association Agreement.

On 20 February 2014, the European Commission and Georgia officially launched negotiations for Georgia’s accession to the Energy Community

On 26 June 2014, Georgia and the European Union developed the Association Agenda, which aims to promote the effective implementation of the Association Agreement and represents a three-year (2014-2016) plan of priority commitments under the Association Agreement.

On 27 June 2014, Georgia and the EU signed the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA).

On 9 September 2014, Baku hosted the 4th Informal Eastern Partnership Dialogue meeting, which included the sectoral dialogue on energy issues.

On 17 November 2014, the first session of the EU-Georgia Association Council took place in Brussels. The Council took a decision to establish a new institutional framework – Association Council, Association Committees and Sectoral Sub-Committees, which are provided for by the EU- Georgia Association Agreement.

On 21 May 2014, the European Commission and the Government of Georgia held a meeting in Brussels to deepen the political dialogue with the European Union.

On 12-13 February 2013, Tbilisi hosted the second informal Eastern Partnership dialogue meeting, which for the first time included a sectoral dialogue on transport issues; On 27-28 June of the same year, the first Eastern Partnership Ministerial Conference on Culture was held in Tbilisi, and on 28-29 November 2013, Vilnius hosted the third Eastern Partnership summit during which, on 29 November, Georgia and the EU initialed the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union belongs to a new generation of most ambitious association agreements  in the sense that, unlike previous analogous agreements, it includes Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) and provides for important specific mechanisms for rapprochement with the European Union. A joint declaration was adopted at the Vilnius summit and the Framework Agreement on Participation in European Union Crisis Management Operations was signed.

On 12 December 2013, Georgia and the European Union signed the protocol to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement on a Framework Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the general principles for the participation of Georgia in Union programmes.

On 28 February 2012, Georgia and the EU officially launched the negotiations on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA).

On 1 March 2011, visa facilitation and readmission agreements between Georgia and the European Union entered into force, and the Visa Liberalization Dialogue between Georgia and the EU was launched  on 4 June 2012. On 25 February 2013, the visa regime liberalization action plan was officially handed over to Georgia.

On 3 May 2011, EuroNest Parliamentary Assembly was officially founded at an extraordinary session held in Brussels. The EuroNest Parliamentary Assembly represents a parliamentary dimension of the Eastern Partnership policy for a multilateral parliamentary dialogue between the EU and Eastern European partners in areas of common interest, such as: peace, stability, harmonization of laws, trade, energy, people-to-people contacts, other.

On 14 July 2011, Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on Protection of Geographical Indications of Agricultural and other Foodstaffs  was signed and entered into force on 1 April 2012.

On 17 June 2010, Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas in Brussels, and on 22 November 2010, Agreement between the European Union and Georgia on the readmission of persons residing without authorisation was signed In Brussels. Both agreements entered into force on 1 March 2011.

On 15 July 2010, the Parties began negotiations of an Association Agreement (AA), and of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), to form an integral part of that Agreement.

On 2 December 2010, Common Aviation Area Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and Georgia was signed in Brussels.

In 2009, within the framework of the political dialogue between Georgia and the European Union, a new format of cooperation was launched – Human Rights Dialogue (HRD). Meetings are held annually within this format.

In 2009, Georgia joined the Eastern Partnership initiative, which was formally launched on 7 May 2009 at the Prague Summit. Georgia actively cooperates with the Initiative in both bilateral and multilateral formats. Civil Society Forum is an important component of the Eastern Partnership.

On 30 November 2009, Joint Declaration Partnership for Mobility was signed in Brussels.  Cooperation between Georgia and the European Union within the framework of this Initiative officially started on 16 February 2010.

On 22 October 2008, joint EU/World Bank Donors’ Conference was held in Brussels where international donors pledged a total of USD 4.5 billion support for 2008-2010 to Georgia.

On 17 February 2004, Government of Georgia introduced a position of  State Minister for European and Euro–Atlantic Integration.

On 14 June 2004, based on the decision of the Council of the European Union, Georgia joined the European Neighborhood Policy, and on 14 November 2006, EU-Georgia European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan was adopted. In reaction to the Russia-Georgia war of August 2008, an extraordinary session of the European Council was held on 1 September 2008; By the EU Council decision of 15 September 2008, the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) was established, which has been operating in Georgia since 1 October 2008; By the decision of the Council of the European Union of 25 September 2008, the post of Special Representative of the European Union for the crisis in Georgia was created, which was held by Pierre Morelli until 2011.

On 7 July 2003, by the decision of the Council of the European Union, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus was appointed. This position was held from 2003 to 2006 by Heikki Talvitie, and from 2006 to 2011 by Peter Semneby. On 25 August 2011, by the decision of the Council of the European Union, the positions of EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and EU Special Representative for the Crisis in Georgia were merged. Philippe Lefort, whose mandate expired on 31 January 2014 was appointed to this position. On 8 July 2014, Herbert Salber took over the position and his duties included participation in peace negotiations to resolve conflicts in the region, as well as support for regional cooperation. More specifically, the special representative participated in the Geneva International Discussions, which began after the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. On 13 November 2017, Toivo Klaar assumed the position, who remained in office until 29 February 2020.

On 22 April 1996, the European Union and Georgia signed Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in Luxembourg, which entered into full force in 1999, establishing EU-Georgia cooperation institutions aimed at facilitating the implementation of the PCA and strengthening bilateral relations and political dialogue. These institutions include:

  • EU-Georgia Cooperation Council;
  • EU-Georgia Cooperation Committee;
  • EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee;
  • EU-Georgia cooperation sub-committees.

Since 1995 Georgia became a beneficiary of the European Union Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which was revised in 2005 and in 2014 (GSP+) and extended to Georgia.

1992 – Cooperation between Georgia and the European Union began in 1992 following the break-up of the Soviet Union and the restoration of independence and  today, Georgia is an associate member of the European Union.

Guide for visa-free travel to the EU / Schengen area

From 28 March 2017, Georgian nationals with biometric passports can travel visa-free to the EU/Schengen countries. Visa-free travel applies to the Schengen area, which includes 22 EU members and 4 non-members, as well as to 4 countries that are candidates to join the Schengen area.

IN DETAIL

EU Projects

EtwinningPlus

Programme for Teachers

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Horizon 2020

Programme for research and innovative projects

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Erasmus+

Programme for education, training, youth and sports

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Creative Europe

Programme for representatives of of culture and art

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ENPARD

Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development

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European Union for Georgia

European Union for Georgia

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Frequently Asked Questions

The European Union is a unique political and economic union that aims to ensure peace, prosperity and freedom in a fairer and safer world. The European Union is based on such values as respect for human dignity, freedom, equality, the rule of law, as well as respect for human rights. These values unite the 27 member states of the European Union, characterized by pluralism, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality in relation to its 446 million citizens.

The European Union has a single currency – the Euro. The 19 EU countries form the euro area, also known as the eurozone. The single market seeks to guarantee the free movement of goods, capital, services, and people, known collectively as the “four freedoms”.

Importantly, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement (DCFTA) with the EU allows Georgia to gradually adopt three of the four freedoms of the EU internal market: free movement of goods, services and capital. The fourth freedom – the free movement of people is facilitated by the visa regime liberalization process.

Association Agreement is concluded between the European Union and a non-EU country and aims to create a framework for cooperation between the parties. Association Agreement is legally binding. Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union is ambitious and innovative, so-called “new generation” agreement because, unlike previous similar agreements, it includes the component of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) and provides for important specific mechanisms for rapprochement with the European Union, and further deepening of cooperation in all priority areas of cooperation between Georgia and the European Union.

The Association Agreement does not provide for the membersahip of the European Union, however, the Association Agreement envisages such a high level of rapprochement with the European Union and its legislation (EU acquis) that its effective implementation actually makes the country’s Europeanization process irreversible. Association Agreement aims at political association with the European Union and gradual economic integration. The agreement creates a long-term basis for the future relations between Georgia and the European Union.

The European Union does not try to change the culture of any country, but strives to protect the diversity of European cultures. The motto of the organization itself is “Unity in diversity”, which emphasizes the fact that the cultural diversity and special character of all member states is protected as much as possible in the European Union.

The European Union does not try to change the culture of any country, rather, strives to protect the diversity of European cultures. The motto of the organization itself is “Unity in diversity”, which emphasizes the fact that the cultural diversity and special character of all member states is protected as much as possible in the European Union.

The core values the European Union is founded on are as follows: respect for human dignity and rights, freedom, solidarity, democratic governance, equality and the rule of law. Our Constitution fully embodies the values listed above. However, even without the Constitution, the concept of dignity and freedom, democratic governance and equality, has always been inherent in Georgia.

Rather than seeking to change the culture of any country, the European Union strives to preserve Europe’s cultural diversity. The motto of the EU “Unity in Diversity” indicates clearly that the European Union stands for the cultural diversity and distinct identity of each of its member state.

The European Union observes and respects the freedom of belief and expression of every person. In EU countries, the relationship between the Church and the State is regulated individually, and the role of the Church in public life varies from country to country.

Important Orthodox countries such as Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria (up to 40 million people) are members of the European Union. The majority of the population of Serbia, a candidate for joining the European Union, belongs to the Orthodox faith as well. Joining the European Union has not created any danger to the Orthodox churches of the above-mentioned countries, as well as to the Orthodox population of the EU member and candidate countries.

The European Union does not require Georgia, like any other country, to legalize same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage is not a precondition for EU membership and has nothing to do with EU law. All EU member states where same-sex marriage is considered as legal are guided by the will (choice) of  their own population. The decision to allow same-sex marriage is supported by the majority of population in all countries recognizing marriage equality, and  this decision is in no way related to any EU obligation or other requirement.

Besides, according to the Constitution of Georgia, Marriage is defined as a voluntary and equal rights union between a man and a woman, which has been entered into with the purpose to create a family.

It needs to be emphasized that EU member states pay special attention to the development and implementation of policies against domestic violence and oppression. Within the framework of the programme against domestic violence, Georgia has received hundreds of thousands of euros in aid  from the European Union.

The European Union firmly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, including the Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions, within its internationally recognized borders, and this will never be subject to revision. From the legal point of view, Georgia’s accession to the European Union means its accession within its internationally recognized borders, i.e. together with the (currently occupied) Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.

The EU-Georgia Association Agreement clearly states that the European Union respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. The Agreement envisages the European Union’s more active involvement in the peaceful settlement of the conflict. In case of effective implementation of the Association Agreement and Georgia’s desire to join the European Union, there will be no reason either for the European Union to change its position on the territorial integrity of Georgia, or for Georgia to give up its occupied regions for EU membership.

On the other hand, Georgian nationals living in the occupied territories will enjoy all the benefits that apply across  the entire territory of Georgia. It should be noted that the European Union permanently applies political pressure on the Russian Federation and calls on it to reverse the recognition  of the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions as independent states and to de-occupy the Georgian regions.

Unlike the Russian Federation (which still occupies 20% of Georgia), the European Union not only supports the territorial integrity of Georgia, but also helps Georgia develop its economic potential and contributes to the modernization of the Georgian State. Equipped with democratic institutions, developed economically and protected under the umbrella of security, Georgia will be attractive to everyone, including to the population of the occupied territories, and this will facilitate the peaceful return of the occupied territories. NATO and the European Union are the two organizations that ensure Georgia’s security, democratic and economic development.

The launch of visa-free travel to Schengen area allows Georgian citizens with a valid biometric passport (the validity of which should be at least 6 months on the day of return to Georgia) to make only short-term visits (90 days within any 180 days) without a visa. The visa-free regime means free movement within the Schengen area, including the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Greece, France, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, Croatia. A Georgian national can stay for up to 90 days in the Schengen countries and can re-enter the Schengen area again after 90 days (180 days in total) have passed.

It is important to know that visa-free regime applies to short-term visits for purposes such as tourism, visiting family members/relatives, business, short-term studies and exchange programmes/training courses, cultural or scientific eventsv,medical treatment and others.

Visa-free travel does not apply to long-term visits, for purposes such as education, employment, other. Georgian nationals intending to stay for a long time in the EU/Schengen area should apply for a visa to the consulate of a relevant country accredited to Georgia.

A Georgian national who stays in the Schengen area beyond 90 days will be deemed to be illegally present and will be subject to readmission, after which he/she will be banned from entering the Schengen area for 5 years or will be fined 3000 euros.

Furthermore, to enter the EU/Schengen area, a Georgian national must:

  • not be on the list of persons who pose a threat to public order and national security, are banned from entering at least one of the above-mentioned countries;
  • not be convicted for a criminal offense punishable by more than 1 year’s imprisonment in any EU/Schengen country;
  • not be subject to expulsion (deportation) or to repatriation (readmission);
  • not be suspected of participating in criminal activity, based on irrefutable evidence.

A Georgian national with a biometric passport who enters the Schengen area will be identified in the shortest possible time. In the event of a violation, he/she may be banned from entering the Schengen area for subsequent years.

Before signing the Association Agreement, products made in the EU, due to their high quality and safety standards, entered the Georgian market without hindrance. The Association Agreement signed in 2014 facilitates Georgian entrepreneurs’ gradual transition to EU standards, which means that Georgia-made products will be of high quality and competitive not only in the Georgian market, but also in European and other international markets. It should also be considered that, to achieve the mentioned standard, Georgian entrepreneurs are given a certain period of time and the European Union allocates financial assistance to Georgia to ensure the enhanced quality of the goods, stability of supply and competitive environment.

Georgian entrepreneurs are granted a certain period of time to meet EU standards. Through the financial aid instruments assigned to Georgia, the European Union encourages these changes to be implemented step by step and as smoothly as possible.

As a result of this agreement, the share of Georgian exports to the EU market increases significantly. More specifically, before the implementation of the DCFTA, only 65% of the products exported from Georgia to the EU were produced in Georgia. According to the  data for 2019, this figure increased by 24%, and already makes up 89% of exports. It is important that along with the diversification and increase of export, the number of companies exporting to the European Union increased by 61% (910 companies) in 2019 compared to 2014.

EU-Georgia trade has no impact on Georgia’s trade turnover with other states and on economic cooperation in general. The Association Agreement and other formats of cooperation with the European Union do not provide for the prioritization of Georgia’s trade partners at any stage. Moreover, the reforms planned or ongoing in the European integration process will further increase the quality and image of the goods produced in Georgia. This will help the country diversify its exports, get higher incomes and deepen relations with various trade partners, including with China, CIS countries, others.

The European Union and Team Europe have mobilized approximately 1.5 billion GEL to help Georgia fight the Covid-19 pandemic, by raising new funds and distributing the existing ones. Almost 2/3 of this amount is provided in the form of grants, and the rest – in the form of preferential loans. This is one of the highest rates of aid per capita provided by the European Union to any country, which confirms the European Union’s strong solidarity with Georgia during the unprecedented crisis.

The Government of Georgia directs the aforesaid aid towards overcoming the Covid-19 crisis. It envisages an anti-crisis economic plan and new regional/rural and agricultural development programmes to ensure the macroeconomic stability of the country. More specifically, the EU support includes measures in such areas as healthcare, social affairs, economic recovery, etc.