Meetings in the universities were part of the Europe Day 2017 campaign organized by the Parliament of Georgia and European Union in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In total, eight state universities – Ilia State University, Tbilisi State Medical University, Georgian Technical University, Jacob Gogebashvili Telavi State University, Shota Rustaveli Batumi State University, Gori State Teaching University, Akaki Tsereteli Kutaisi State University and Samtskhe-Javakheti State University, joined the Europe Day campaign.
Speaking at the events, the MPs and diplomats underlined the progress achieved in the relationship between Georgia and the European Union (EU). They stressed concrete benefits of the Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the European Union for the citizens of Georgia, and discussed the role of the Parliament in creating the legal ground for this progress and harmonizing the national legislation with the European standards.
More than 12,000 Georgians enjoyed a visa free travel to the EU since its enforcement in April 2017. The DCFTA opened the EU’s 500 million market to Georgian goods and services, which resulted in a 44% increase in export during the first quarter of 2017, comparing to the same period of 2016. Around 1,700 students received scholarships for studying in the European universities in 2015-2016. The Parliament of Georgia with its legislative activities greatly contributed to the implementation of these initiatives.
The Parliamentary Europe Week will conclude with the Europe Day reception on May 11, which will be hosted by the Parliament Speaker, Irakli Kobakhidze.
