International conference “Georgia’s European Way – The EU and Its European Neighbors” is underway
The IX International
Conference “Georgia’s European Way – The EU and Its European Neighbours”
organized by the Office of the State Minister of Georgia on European and
Euro-Atlantic Integration is being held in Batumi. The Conference has been
opened by the Vice Prime-Minister, Giorgi Baramidze. The President of
Georgia Michael Saakashvili is attending the Conference.
Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova,
Vladimir Filat, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy,
Štefan Füle, President of the European People's Party, Wilfried Martens, as
well as high officials and representatives of governments, parliaments, civil
society and business from EU Member States, the Partner Countries and Georgia
are participating in the Conference.
The Conference is dedicated to the perspectives
of European integration in Eastern European Neighbourhood as well as democratic
reforms and the rule of law, challenges of global and regional security,
economic cooperation with the EU and people-to-people contacts.
Four thematic sessions are working during the
Conference:
Session I – “Democratic Reforms and the Rule of Law” will
discuss the importance of the success of democracy in the Eastern
Europe and challenges of democratic transformation alongside the
issues of free and fair elections as a key for democratic development. The
participants will also draw attention to the importance of the freedom of media
and role of civil society.
Session II – “Challenges of Global Security” will
emphasize on importance of security and stability for European integration. The
issues of democratic development and economic prosperity in Eastern
Europe as well as the EU’s essential role in promoting security
and stability in its Eastern neighborhood will be the main topics of discussion
within the session.
Session III – “Opportunities of Economic Integration with the EU” will attract participants’ attention
to the prospects of economic cooperation between the EU and Eastern European as
well as the issues of economic modernisation through gradual European
integration. The participants will discuss the Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Area as a facilitator of economic development and will debate about the
challenges of European integration-related reforms and the importance of
attraction of FDI. Particular attention will be paid to the issues of
advancing energy security of Europe.
Session IV – “Facilitation of People-to-People contacts as a
catalyst for European Integration” will
consider culture, education and science as a bridge between the nations. The
session will discuss the importance of people-to-people contacts for the
solution of conflicts and significance of freedom of movement of people as a
necessary precondition for deepening the integration of societies.
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