Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

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The South East Europe (SEE) annual working meeting reviews reforms and achievements in the agricultural and rural development areas in the process of Georgia's rapprochement with the EU.

At the 17th annual working meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of Southeast Europe (SEE), Georgia was given a unique opportunity, together with the Ministers of Agriculture of EU member states and candidate countries, to discuss the reforms and achievements in the agricultural and rural development area in the process of rapprochement with the European Union.

On November 6, 2023, the First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mrs. Nino Tandilashvili, participated in the 17th annual working meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of Southeast Europe (SEE) at Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Ministerial meeting was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG RRD) in South-Eastern Europe.

"We are making progress towards membership in the European Union. Our achievements, including the Association Agreement with the European Union, the Free Trade Agreement with the European Union, the visa-free travel regime, and the European perspective recognized in June 2022 confirm our geopolitical priority of becoming a member state of the European Union.

 The progress we have made, particularly in agriculture and rural development, environmental protection, and climate change areas, is outstanding. Our achievements were clearly outlined in the European Commission's analytical report on Georgia's compliance with EU legislation. It should be emphasized that we  strive to comply with the principles of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the EU, and we are optimistic that the European Commission's scheduled assessment of Georgia's progress at the end of this year will pave the road for a positive decision on the candidate status." Mrs. Nino Tandilashvili stated.

Since 2015, within the scope of the EU Association Agreement, Georgia has approximated its legislation with more than 130 EU legal acts in the food safety, veterinary protection, and plant protection areas. The quality of locally produced products has been improved in compliance with EU standards, contributing to agricultural product exports to the EU countries.