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With several meetings in the European institutions and an international conference in the Committee of the Regions, a project „Regio Tamar-selfgovernments accross divides” has been summarised. The project has been implemented by the Wielkopolska region for the benefit of Georgian selfgovernments in the framework of the Polish Aid Programme 2008. Marshal Marek Woźniak, Member of the CoR, invited the authorities of the Tbilisi City as well as representatives of them.woniakl.vandenbrandeg.ugulava.jpg
Parlament of Georgia to Brussels in order to enable them presenting thier needs and expectations on the European institutional forum for the first time. The study visit to Brussels which took place between 1-3 December this year was aimed at gathering some practical information on opportunities of using the EU funds available in the framework of the European Nieghbourhood Policy. The visit’s focal point was an announcement of the EC’s Communication on the Eastern Partnership.
Georgian partners, among them Mayor of Tibilisi Giorgi Ugulava, Vicemayor Mamuka Akhvlediani, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee of the Regional, Territorial and Mountanious Regions’ Development Vano Khukhunaishvili as well as Mayor of Rustavi Mamuka Chikovani had a very rich programme comprising appointments with Deputy Director General of DG AIDCO Richard Weber, Head of Unit European Neighbourhood Policy in DG RELEX John O’Rourke and many others. Georgians had a chance to learn on activities performed by the regional representations in Brussels given to the example presentated by the Wielkopolska Region Brussels Office. They could also meet the representatives of Brussels headquarters of the Assembly of the European Regions, where they will soon apply for its membership.
The important moment of the programme was a trilateral meeting with Luc Van den Brande, President of the CoR. Mr Van den Brande has been also a keynote speaker at the conference: European Neighbourhood Policy - interregional cooperation as a road towards the efficient support to democratic
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transition process in Georgia. Summary conference of the project "REGIO-TAMAR, self-governments across divides", examplifying actions strenghtening collaboration between European and Georgian regions. During this meeting Giorgi Ugulava –Mayor of Tibilisi presented the current political and economic situation in Georgia, refering to problems occured after the August conflict, especialy in the field of the internally displaced persons. Using this opportunity, he outlined actions of the Georgian authorities directed at recovery actions in the scope of the social infrustructure. Luc Van den Brande underlined that the EU recognizes the territorial integrity of Georgia and does not agree to any military intervention of the Russian Federation. At the same time, Mr Van den Brande assured that the conflicts need to be resolved through peaceful mediations, agreements and cooperation. Marshal Marek Woźniak highlited the significance of the day-to-day, operational cooperation at the regional and local levels. Finaly he handed over to both interlocutors: Mr Van den Brande and Mr Ugulava, a handbook on the European Neighbourhood Policy and ENPI funding opportunities for the Georgian selfgovernments, developed under the Regio Tamar project by the Wielkopolska Region Information Office in Brusslels. The handbook is available in three language versions: Polish, English and Georgian, and is free to download at: www.wielkopolska.eu
At the very end of the visit Georgian delegation of 15 representatives took part at the announcement
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of the Eastern Partnership Communication. President of the EC, José Manuel Barroso and Commissioner for the EU’s External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, presented prosals of the enhancement of the political involvment in six eastern partner countries basing on bliateral approach with free trade and mobility issues and multilateral approaches with more project opportunities. A budget of 600 Mio EUR has been offered to implement this package until 2013. More on the Eastern Partnership
Author: BIWW
Photos: BIWW, CoR
