Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Georgian National Platform Statement On the Occasion of Signing the EU-Georgia Association Agreement

27 June 2014

Signing the Association Agreement with the European Union is one of the pivotal events in Georgia’s recent past. The centuries-old aspiration of Georgian people towards European civilization gains the principal importance today, when Europe, namely, the European Union represents the single space of democracy, freedom, justice, peace, stability and security. Under the Association Agreement, Georgia is granted the rights of the high quality friendship and cooperation within the European family. Its proper application will help Georgia develop political, social, cultural and scientific fields; attract investments and deepen cooperation in security, energy, industry and other spheres. The Agreement will open the way to the Georgian produce and services to the European market and will ensure the free movement of Georgian nationals in EU countries. The Association Agreement will help strengthen the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia and will contribute to peaceful resolution of the existing conflicts. By signing the Association Agreement, Georgia enters into the new phase of development that implies carrying out core reforms in different fields along with facing new challenges and obligations. Fulfilling the provisions of the Agreement will create the pre-conditions to the Georgia’s membership of the EU; and it is the utmost important that in this process the Georgian government, political parties and civil society organizations feel more responsibility and unite on the way of advancement towards the common goal. The Georgian National Platform congratulates the Georgian people with this significant event and wishes the steady progress on the European way of development and prosperity.

The signatory organizations (the members of Georgian National Platform):

1. Association “Green Alternative”

2. Association DEA for Disabled Women and Mothers of Disabled Children

3. Caucasus Environmental NGO network (CENN)

4. Cultural-Humanitarian Fund “Sukhumi”

5. Energy Efficiency Foundation

6. European Initiative – Liberal Academy Tbilisi

7. Foundation “Multi- Ethnic Resource Centre on Civic Education Development”

8. Georgian Association “Woman in Business”

9. Georgian Trade Union Confederation

10. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association

11. Human Rights Centre

12. Institute for the study of nationalism and conflict

13. International Center for Advancement of Research, Technology & Innovation (ICARTI)

14. Open Society Georgia Foundation

15. Partnership For Road Safety

16. Transparency International Georgia

17. Union “Article 42 of the Constitution”

18. United Public Movement “Multinational Georgia”

19. “Women Enterprise” Fund Georgia

20. International Foundation “LEA”

21. Samtskhe-Javakheti Regional Association “Toleranti”

22. Institute of Democracy

23. Human Rights House Tbilisi

24. Foundation for Media Development

25. Women’s Initiatives supporting Group

26. International Center for Civic Culture

27. Women’s Information Centre

28. Energy Efficiency Centre Georgia

29. Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS)

30. World Experience for Georgia (WEG)

31. The Economic Policy Research Center

32. Innovations and Reforms Center (IRC)

33. People’s Harmonious Development Society

34. Fund – Ecology of Caucasus

35. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)

36. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)

37. Caucasian House

38. CIESR – The Caucasian Institute for Economic and Social Research

39. The Greens Movement of Georgia / Friends of the Earth – Georgia

40. The European Law Students’ Association

41. Civil Society Institute

42. International Association – Civitas Georgica

43. International Press Institute Georgian Committee

44. Save The Future Generation

45. Studio “Re”

46. Association “Atinati”

47. Association of Young Professionals in Energy of Georgia

48. International Center of Geopolitical research

49. IDP Association “Consent”

50. Healthy Children

51. Community Foundation GENIUS LOCI

52. Youth Alternative

53. Healthy World

54. Public Advocacy

55. International Society “Caucasian Mosaic”

56. Biological Farming Association “Elkana”

57. Election The Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia

58. Environment Development Centre

59. Psychea

60. International Organization of Human Rights protection and Prisoners social welfare

61. Youth for Justice

62. Caucasian House – Georgia

63. Caucasian University Women

64. Teachers’ Union “Education and Universe”

65. Peaceful and Business Caucasus