EU-Georgia Action Plan

The EU-Georgia Action Plan is a national multi-sectoral action plan. Among others, its main priorities are develop and implement a comprehensive programme to improve the business climate, in particular to improve the conditions to starting a business, hiring and firing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, enforcing contracts, and closing a business; encourage economic development and enhance poverty reduction efforts and social cohesion, promote sustainable development including the protection of the environment; further convergence of economic legislation and administrative practices; strengthen regional cooperation; continue cooperation on Caspian and Black Sea regional energy issues (oil, gas, electricity) in the context of the follow up to the EU-Black Sea-Caspian Basin energy Ministerial Conference of November 2004 as well as INOGATE; with a view to regional integration and progressive integration with the EU energy market and system and Georgia’s role as energy transit country, encourage the development of diversified infrastructure connected to development of Caspian energy resources and facilitate transit; take significant steps to reduce levels of poverty; introduce effective poverty reduction measures aimed at significant reduction in the number of people with income below the poverty line and improved social cohesion, including sustainable systems for education, health and other social services with access for all; continue reform of the social security system notably to improve targeting and effectiveness of social protection measures and social assistance particularly child care; continue reforms in the education and health sectors, and ensure transparency and accountability of the reformed (former budgetary) organisations; undertake effective monitoring of service delivery; enhance agricultural production and rural development; adopt and implement the agriculture development strategy 2006 -2009 providing for: i) the structural, institutional, legal and administrative support necessary in order to complete the process of land privatisation and liberalisation of land markets; ii) encouraging the diversification of rural activity including development of rural tourism; foster the development, promotion and protection of quality production, (traditional products, organic products, geographical indications, etc.); exchange of experience on best practices and use of international and EU standards; identify and develop measures to improve (i) access to credit facilities, as to encourage private investment in the agricultural sector, (ii) access to local and export markets, and (iii) knowledge transfer and extension services; promotion of sustainable development; identify steps to establish and implement the national strategy on sustainable development; ensure strategic planning of sustainable development and coordination between relevant actors; take steps to improve integration of environmental considerations into other policy sectors; initiate a dialogue to explore the possibility for the negotiation of a bilateral agreement on geographical indications, including in the wine and spirits sector; increase food safety for consumers and facilitate trade through reforms and modernisation of the sanitary and phyto-sanitary services; continue work towards full implementation of the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary measures and active participation in relevant international bodies (World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), FAO/WHO/Codex Alimentarius, and IPPC/FAO after adhesion); exchange information on and explore possible areas of convergence with EU rules and practices in the field of sanitary and phyto-sanitary issues (e.g. policy, legislation, strengthening of institutions, implementing practices); adhere to the International Plant Protection Convention; in the medium-term, draw up a first list of measures for gradual convergence towards EU general food safety principles and requirements (e.g. regulation 178/2002/EC; animal and plant or plant products identification and traceability systems; hygiene in food processing). Start approximation of Georgian legislation in these areas; fulfillment of EU requirements on animal health and for the processing of animal products (c.f.: “General Guidance for third country authorities on the procedures to be followed when importing live animals and animal products into the European Union”, DG SANCO/FVO October 2003); work towards interconnection with the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF); take steps to ensure that conditions for good environmental governance are set and start implementing them; take action for prevention of deterioration of the environment, protection of human health and achievement of rational use of natural resources in line with the commitments of Johannesburg Summit; and enhance co-operation on environmental issues.