The Parliamentary Delegation headed by the Chair of the EU Integration Committee, Maka Botchorishvili participated in the 10th EuroNest PA Plenary Session in Chisinau.

The Assembly included the debates on “Future of Eastern Partnership Policy after the aggressive Russian war against Ukraine. Context of new regional security, challenges and advantages”, within which the Assembly members discussed the EaP future and lingering challenges.

“Russian aggression against Ukraine once again revealed that European security cannot be ensured without peace in the Eastern neighborhood. It’s clear that we need an updated strategic vision of the EaP and certain steps to address the existing challenges”, - M. Botchorishvili stated in her speech.

She dwelt on the EU integration progress of Georgia, the EU decision on granting the European perspective to Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova and the necessity of timely further actions.

“Georgia keeps implementing the EU recommendations and we are proud to declare that we spared no efforts to comply with the recommendations and can demonstrate tangible progress in all directions. Simultaneously, we keep the implementation of the Association Agreement to increase the EU compatibility of Georgia. The progress we achieved is clearly reflected in the EC assessment document and we hope that in accordance with our efforts and activities, Georgia will receive the EU candidacy along with Ukraine and Moldova to keep the EU integration path”, - she added.

The EuroNest PA adopted the resolutions developed by the Committees reflecting the proposals submitted by the Georgian Parliamentary Delegation.

The resolution by the Political Affairs Committee underlines the importance of facilitation of good governance in the EaP countries.

• The resolution hails the decision of the EC made on June 23, 2022, on granting the EU candidacy for Moldova and Ukraine and the European perspective to Georgia and underlines that Georgia shall as well receive the EU candidacy
• The resolution provides the progress of Georgia in various directions and calls on the EU to exercise the enlargement process in line with the merit-based factors and take into consideration the reforms undertaken by Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova;
• The resolution responds to the security challenges and condemns the Russian military actions against Ukraine and the occupation of the territories of Georgia and Moldova; the resolution hails unconditional EU support to the EaP countries and their sovereignty and territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders.

The EuroNest PA adopted the resolution of the Energy Security Committee co-authored by the Georgian MP Maia Bitadze, highlighting that energy security is in direct connection with the national security of the EU and the EaP countries and that’s why it’s crucial to develop renewable energy sources.

“Energy security is a key part of national security and that’s why green energy shall be considered as a response to the energy security by the EU and EaP countries. I represent the country, which unfortunately, has been through Russian military aggression for the last 30 years, the country that depended on Russian gas and was exposed to the energy embargo in 2006 and unprovoked and unjustified military aggression in 2008. The military occupation is still creeping and Russia occupies 20% of our territories. Unfortunately, Georgia is well aware of the methods of Russia to use energy resources as a political weapon and that’s why, and also providing climate change, we need to take all necessary measures by the EU and EaP countries to accelerate the maximal utilization of green energy sources. We all understand that uninterrupted EU support is paramount for the creation of the technical capacity for the connecting projects, including the Georgia-Romania Black Sea submarine cabling, which will significantly contribute to the energy security of Europe and Caucasus region”, - M. Bitadze elucidated.

The EuroNest PA session has been held in Chisinau on February 19-21, 2023, attended by the MEPs and MPs from Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine.

The Georgian Assembly at the session was represented by the Head of the Delegation, Maka Botchorishvili and MPs Mikheil Sarjveladze, Maia Bitadze, Levan Karumidze, Giorgi Khelashvili and Giorgi Vashadze.