{"id":449538,"date":"2021-07-20T16:47:54","date_gmt":"2021-07-20T16:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.moldova.org\/en\/?p=449538"},"modified":"2021-07-20T16:52:48","modified_gmt":"2021-07-20T16:52:48","slug":"batumi-international-conference-the-european-council-president-as-well-as-presidents-of-georgia-ukraine-and-moldova-discussed-their-future-cooperation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moldova.org\/en\/batumi-international-conference-the-european-council-president-as-well-as-presidents-of-georgia-ukraine-and-moldova-discussed-their-future-cooperation\/","title":{"rendered":"Batumi International Conference – the European Council President, as well as Presidents of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova discussed their future cooperation"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

Georgia hosted the 17th Batumi International Conference<\/a> on July 19-20, 2021. President of Moldova, Maia Sandu<\/strong>, was invited to address the audience, next to Salome Zourabichvili<\/strong>, President of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili<\/strong>, Prime Minister of Georgia, Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/strong>, President of Ukraine and Charles Michel<\/strong>, President of the European Council. Challenges and opportunities in the Euro-Atlantic space,\u00a0 as well as the prospects for the cooperation between the traditional allies were discussed by the officials from the EU, the three Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, as well as international experts.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Source: presedinte.md<\/p><\/div>\n

“We took advantage of this platform to reconfirm the European aspirations of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. We also discussed the prospects of the Eastern Partnership and how our countries, as associated states, can strengthen their relationship with the European Union on various dimensions,”<\/em> Maia Sandu stated<\/a> during the conference.<\/p>\n

“Strengthening state institutions, fighting corruption, eliminating compromised judges from the system, and a professional and honest public sector – this is the European integration that the citizens of the Republic of Moldova want and which they supported by the majority vote of July 11.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

President Maia Sandu highlighted the importance of the EaP, as one of the tools that would contribute to the transformation of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. “It has significantly improved our visibility in Europe, and it has helped us access additional tools that help us face common challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, energy security, hybrid threats, environmental and climate issues. The added value of a consolidated Eastern Partnership framework is undeniable, in this regard. […] I am convinced that a dynamic and synergistic cooperation between the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine will help us to capitalize more effectively on the opportunities offered by European partners, for the good of our countries, but also of the entire European Union,”<\/em> the president said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Source: presedinte.md<\/p><\/div>\n

At the same time, the Moldovan official mentioned that the first and the most difficult steps lie at home: “strengthening democratic institutions, consolidating the rule of law, ensuring the independence and accountability of the justice system, strengthening anti-corruption institutions, and restoring the trust of citizens in the state are key to unlocking our unexplored potential with the EU, but also with the rest of the world. These reforms are a must that cannot be simply bypassed or delayed. In this regard, we welcome the EU\u2019s more-for-more principle, and the principle of conditionality.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Charles Michel, President of the European Council, also gave a speech<\/a> at the Batumi International conference. “Today I make a promise to you: the EU will remain a strong and reliable partner for your region. We count on your commitment to advance reforms, not to please Brussels, but in the interest of your people and your societies.<\/span> Together, we must always stand up for human rights and the rule of law, equal rights, non-discrimination, and freedom of expression, assembly and the press.\u00a0 They define who we are, and they are the best guarantee for prosperity.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The EU official mentioned that the Association Agreements with Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova were “among the most ambitious forms of cooperation that the EU had with any third country.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“By 2019 our trade had significantly increased, in some cases by as much as 45 percent. […] More than half a million of your citizens have benefited from visa free travel so far. We also support the young generation with over 80 000 exchanges through our Erasmus+ programme,”<\/em> Charles Michel declared.<\/p>\n

He also referred to the EU future priorities: a 2.3 billion euros economic and investment plan, with the potential to mobilise up to 17 billion euros in public and private investments for the region, creation and renewal of thousands of kilometres of roads and railways by 2030, access to finance for SMEs, assist the digital transition and support greater climate and health resilience, promoting the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and fighting corruption.<\/strong><\/p>\n