Georgia, Tbilisi, Dec. 8 /Trend, N.Kirtskhalia/
The Cooperation Council between the EU and Georgia held its 11th meeting on December 7, 2010 in Brussels, which was chaired by the EU side, namely Mr. Zsolt Németh, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Hungary, representing the incoming EU Council Presidency, Georgian Foreign Ministry reported.
The European Commission was represented by Mr. Štefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy. The EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Ambassador Peter Semneby, also took part in the meeting.
The Georgian side was represented by Ms. Salome Samadashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Great Duchy of Luxemburg, Head of the Mission of Georgia to the EU.
The plenary meeting of the EU-Georgia Cooperation Council discussed current priority issues related to EU-Georgia Cooperation, particularly: cooperation within the bilateral and multilateral dimensions of the Eastern Partnership, including ongoing negotiations on the Association Agreement, timely start of the negotiations on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, cooperation with the EU towards further visa liberalisation, etc.; security situation in Georgia and EU's role in promoting international monitoring and strengthening the security situation on the ground; democratic reform process in Georgia and steps implemented by the Georgian Government in this regard; progress in the implementation of the EU-Georgia ENP Action Plan was also discussed at the meeting.
During the Cooperation Council meeting the EU side reaffirmed its support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, within its internationally recognised borders. In line with its non-recognition and engagement policy with regard to Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, the EU underlined importance of an approach based on confidence building and facilitating people-to-people contacts, as well as freedom of movement.
The EU side welcomed efforts of Georgia and progress achieved in implementing democratic reforms. The Cooperation Council discussed issues related to the cooperation under the Eastern Partnership and progress in the implementation of the ENP Action Plan.