PURPOSE: to conclude an Association Agreement between the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2016/838 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part.
BACKGROUND: relations between the EU and Georgia are currently based on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force in July 1999.
On 10 May 2010, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations for a new Association Agreement, including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) part, to replace the old PCA.
Those negotiations were successfully finalised, and the Association Agreement between the EU and Euratom and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part was initialled on 29 November 2013.
In accordance with Council Decision 2014/494/EU, the Agreement was signed on 27 June 2014, subject to its conclusion at a later date.
The Agreement must be concluded on behalf of the EU.
CONTENT: with this Decision, the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part, is approved on behalf of the Union.
Objectives of the Association Agreement: the Agreement establishes an association between the Parties, aiming at political association and economic integration of Georgia and leaving open the way for further progressive developments.
The overall aims of the association focus on:
Sectoral cooperation: the Agreement also deals with several possibilities in terms of sectoral cooperation and focuses on support for essential reforms, economic growth, governance and sectoral cooperation in the following areas:
Approximation of legislation: key to the sectoral cooperation chapters is a comprehensive menu of gradual approximation of Georgian legislation with the EU acquis, to provide a focus for on-going cooperation, and provide a reform and modernisation agenda.
Free trade area: a free trade area between the EU and Georgia is envisaged. Approximation of Georgia with EU legislation, norms and standards, will be the method.
Geographical indications: the Agreement sets out the relevant procedures for the protection of geographical indications that are given protection pursuant to the Agreement. The Agreement should not be construed as conferring rights or imposing obligations that can be directly invoked before Union or Member State courts and tribunals.
It is stipulated that a name protected under the “Geographical Indications” of the Agreement may be used by any operator marketing agricultural products, foodstuffs, wines, aromatised wines or spirits conforming to the corresponding specification.
Member States and the institutions of the Union shall enforce the protection provided for in the Agreement, including at the request of an interested party.
Institutional framework: the Agreement includes an updated institutional framework encompassing cooperation and dialogue fora. Specific decision-making roles are envisaged for an Association Council, and by delegation for an Association Committee, which may also meet in a specific configuration to address trade issues. Provision for fora for civil society and parliamentary cooperation is also made. The Agreement includes provisions on monitoring, fulfilment of obligations and dispute settlement (including separate provisions for trade-related issues).
ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision enters into force on 23.05.2016.