Despite the complicated environment, Georgia is showing ambition and has achieved results towards developing closer ties with the European Union, said Chair of the parliamentary Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds Kristian Vigenin at the conference organised by the Georgian Parliament and entitled “EU and partners: let us accept diversity to strengthen unity”. The MP from BSP for Bulgaria spoke on the topic “Stronger engagement with the EU and between partners: realities, prospects and opportunities”.

Kristian Vigenin explained that the EU was not yet ready to give a prospect for membership to the countries from the Eastern partnership, but the common task should be wider involvement of those countries in the EU policies, so that they could become part of the EU de facto, and the membership would turn into an easy step. He gave an example with the agreements for creating a deep and comprehensive free trade area, which, once fully implemented, would make Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine part of the European single market. In his words, the same applies to the involvement of those countries in the EU energy policy: connecting energy and gas transportation systems will make countries more energy independent and secure. Examples can be given with other policies too, he emphasised. “It is very important that the countries follow closely and participate in the discussions on the future of the European Union: the decisions which will be made in the next months, including with regard to the next multiannual European budget, will determine the relations with the Eastern neighbours in the future”, emphasised Vigenin and mentioned that it was yet to be decided upon the amount and scope of the financial instruments such as those in support of the pre-accession preparation of the EU neighbours.

The Chair of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds assured the participants that the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU would monitor the implementation of decisions made at the past Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels, so that the “20 deliverables for 2020” adopted at the Summit could become concrete.

Vigenin encouraged the chairs of the Union Affairs Committees from the 6 Eastern Partnership countries to attend the COSAC meetings during the Bulgarian Presidency. There will be a meeting of the chairpersons of COSAC on 20-21 January, and a plenary meeting on 17-19 June.