Association Agreement with Georgia

Decision 2014/494/EU marks the signature and Decision 2014/495/Euratom marks the conclusion of the association agreement with Georgia by the EU, Euratom and the EU Member States.

KEY POINTS

The association agreement covers:

The agreement is based on a number of basic principles:

• democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms;
• a free market economy, sustainable development and effective multilateralism;
• the rule of law and good governance, as well as international obligations;
• the fight against corruption, various forms of international organised crime, terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.

Political dialogue between the 2 parties is to be further developed and strengthened. It has a number of aims including:

• deepening political association and increase political and security policy convergence and effectiveness;
• promoting the principles of territorial integrity, respect for internationally recognised borders, sovereignty and independence;
• peaceful conflict resolution;
• international stability and security based on effective multilateralism;
• deepening cooperation on security and defence.

Freedom, security and justice

Cooperation on freedom, security and justice covers a number of specific issues including:

• protection of personal data;
• migration, asylum and border management;
• fight against organised crime, corruption, terrorism and illegal drugs.

Trade and trade-related matters

The agreement contains a wide range of trade and trade-related matters including:

• national treatment and market access for goods:
  • setting up a free trade area between the parties and removes customs duties on goods originating from the other party, with certain exceptions (set out in the annexes),
  • an anti-circumvention mechanism , which under certain circumstances would suspend the preferential treatment of certain Georgian agricultural products entering the EU, has been in effect since 2016;

  The agreement requires that:

  • both parties improve their understanding of the other’s economy and introduce economic policies to bring about economic reform;
  • Georgia works towards a functioning market economy, gradually aligns its economic and financial rules with those of the EU, and ensures sound macroeconomic policies.

  Other areas of cooperation

  The EU and Georgia agree to establish close cooperation on a wide range of policy areas to help the development and growth potential of Georgia.

  Financial assistance, anti-fraud and control rules

  • To help achieve the goals of the agreement, Georgia receives financial assistance through the relevant EU funding mechanisms and instruments.
  • It may also benefit from cooperation with the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other international financial institutions.

  Institutional and general rules

  • The agreement sets up an Association Council to supervise the application and implementation of the agreement.
  • It is assisted by an Association Committee and an Association Committee in trade configuration made up of senior civil servants of the 2 parties.

  DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

  • The agreement is a mixed agreement * requiring it to be ratified by each Member State as well as by the European Parliament. It has been in force since 1 July 2016.
  • Certain parts of the agreement have been provisionally applied since 1 September 2014.

  BACKGROUND

  • Georgia ( European Commission )
  • Georgia and the EU ( European External Action Service ).

  KEY TERMS

  Mixed agreement: if the subject matter of an agreement does not fall under the exclusive competence of the EU (here, the agreement also involves Euratom), Member States also have to sign the agreement. Such agreements are known as mixed agreements. This means that, in addition to the EU itself, Member States become contracting parties towards the non-EU contracting parties. Mixed agreements may also require that an internal EU act is adopted to share out the obligations between the Membr States and the EU.

  MAIN DOCUMENTS

  Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part (OJ L 261, 30.8.2014, pp. 4-743)

  Successive amendments to the Association Agreement have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

  Council Decision 2014/494/EU of 16 June 2014 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part (OJ L 261, 30.8.2014, pp. 1-3)

  Council Decision 2014/495/Euratom of 16 June 2014 approving the conclusion, by the European Commission, on behalf of the European Atomic Energy Community, of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part (OJ L 261, 30.8.2014, pp. 744-745)

  RELATED DOCUMENTS

  Regulation (EU) 2016/401 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 implementing the anti-circumvention mechanism provided for in the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part (OJ L 77, 23.3.2016, pp. 62-64)

  Information concerning the entry into force of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part (OJ L 161, 18.6.2016, p. 1)

  Notice concerning the provisional application of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part (OJ L 259, 30.8.2014, p. 1)