State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alex Petriashvili is on a working visit in Brussels, where he held bilateral meetings with Managing Director in the European External Action Service for Europe and Central Asia, Luis Felipe Fernández de la Peña. At the meeting, the parties discussed Georgia's EU integration process. In particular, the sides underlined the significance of implementing activities envisaged under the Association Agenda. The State Minister expressed his hope that the European Parliament will ratify the Association Agreement by the end of the year, reports GHN based on the Ministry of European and Euro Atlantic Integration.
During the meeting, discussions touched upon the current situation in the region and existing threats and challenges posed to the Eastern Partnership countries. Attention was also paid to the preparations towards the Riga Eastern Partnership Summit in 2015. Regarding the expectations of the Summit, Alex Petriashvili underscored the importance of the EU Member States' support, as well as, of granting European perspective to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia and establishment of the visa-free regime for the citizens of Georgia.
Within the framework of the visit, the State Minister delivered a speech at the event organised by the European Policy Center (EPC), attended by the accredited missions in Brussels, international non-governmental organisations, media representatives and experts. Alex Petriashvili participated in the discussion on "Georgia 2008-Ukraine2014: Implications of the Euro-Atlantic Choice" and answered the questions of the participants.