”In a world of change Europe needs to support the development of stable democracies. The European Union has a responsibility of an historical dimension to strengthen the forces of democracy and open society. This applies to the change in Northern Africa but just as much to the nations of the Eastern Partnership. The European Neighbourhood Policy must be decisive in encouraging democratic development and democratic societies. In Belarus we see a dictatorship that needs to change, in Georgia we see the opposite, a democracy under pressure and threats. The Eastern Partnership provides us with the opportunities to establish a framework for cooperation based upon European values” said Gunnar Hökmark MEP, Vice President of the EPP Group, at the Conference on the Future of EU-Georgia Relations, which took place in the European Parliament today.
Strengthening prosperity, stability and security requires a process of increased trade via Free Trade Agreements, visa facilitation, energy and the development of stable institutions and a strong civil society. ”The establishment of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly is an important step in order to establish an open and structured common framework for developing the partnership and make a closer integration real” underlined Gunnar Hökmark.
He concluded that ”the European Union needs to support Georgia in its struggle for independence and safeguarding democracy. There must be no Russian troops on Georgian soil and no threats to its political sovereignty. With increased efforts to the European Neighbourhood policy we can make it possible for the citizens of Georgia to decide upon their future.”