The European Commission will conduct an evaluation of the results of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Georgia. The report will be published in April 2022.
According to the Ministry of Economy, the seventh meeting of the Association Committee on Trade between Georgia and the European Union was held online on February 3-4 under the chairmanship of Deputy Minister Genadi Arveladze.
The meeting was attended by representatives of government agencies involved in the implementation of the DCFTA and relevant directorates of the European Commission. The EU side was represented by Mr Ignacio IRUARRIZAGA DÍEZ Acting Head of Unit for Trade in Services and Investment at the European Commission.
“During the meeting, the parties discussed trade trends between Georgia and the EU and the impact of COVID-19, as well as public procurement, competition, sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
The European Commission has welcomed the fact that the EU remains one of Georgia's most important trading partners, accounting for almost a quarter of the country's foreign trade. The European Commission delegation noted that the number of Georgian companies exporting to the EU increased in 2019, which indicates the creation of favorable conditions for small and medium-sized businesses and new economic operators to export to the EU.
At the meeting, the Georgian side informed the European Commission about the changes initiated in the Georgian public procurement system. The European Commission praised the efforts of the Georgian side in drafting public procurement legislation and completing the first phase of the DCFTA approximation process. Particular attention was paid to the establishment of an independent and impartial dispute resolution body in the field of public procurement.
The Georgian side thanked the EU for the effective cooperation, as a result of which in 2020 animal feed was added to the list of Georgian animal products that can be exported to the EU market.
It is noteworthy that the EU has expressed particular interest in the the Market Surveillance Agency for the smooth administration of consumer and industrial products, which is a kind of innovative solution focused on the private sector.
