DCFTA EU - Georgia: challenges and economic implications
Keywords:
Deep and comprehensive Free Trade (DCFTA), regulatory approximation/convergence, economic integration, EU acquisAbstract
Currently the Government of Georgia is in the process of negotiations for a Free Trade Area with the European Union. In order to obtain an impact on economic growth, Georgia needs a trade agreement of a new generation - a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) that can become the main catalyst for promoting trade and investment opportunities. In order to achieve this objective, the Georgian economy has to undergo far reaching regulatory reforms, especially in the technical barriers to trade (TBT), sanitary and phytosanitary issues (SPS), intellectual property rights (IPR) and Competition. The Georgian government put special emphasis to legal approximation, institutional strengthening, capacity-building and implementation. There is high commitment of the Government to continue implementation of necessary reforms in DCFTA related areas in order to swiftly progress in negotiationsReferences
Georgia’s Progress Report on Implementation of the ENP Action Plan 2011, State Minister’s office on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, April, 2011
Implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy in 2009: Progress Report Georgia, Brussels, 12/05/2010, (http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/pdf/progress2010/sec10_518_en.pdf).
Implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy in Georgia Progress in 2011 and recommendations for action Brussels, 25/05/2012, EC, HR of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
K. Gogolashvili, “Convergence of the regulatory framework – Important challenge for trade and investment”, Georgian European Policy and Legal Advice Centre (GEPLAC), 2008
Presidency Conclusions, Extraordinary European Council, Brussels, 1st September, 2008 (http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/102545.pdf).
Preparatory process for future negotiations of a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement (DCFTA) between the EU and Georgia, Follow-up of the Commission services' fact-finding trade mission to Georgia on 13-15 October 2008, Overview of issues where additional progress is necessary, March, 2009.
Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit, Warsaw, 29-30 September 2011, Council of the European Union
Vincentz Volkhart, ‘Measures to Diversify and Promote Exports in Georgia’, GEPLAC Policy Paper, 28 July 2006.
Commission of the European Communities, Communication on 'A Strong European Neighborhood Policy', COM (2007) 774 Brussels, 2007
Commission of the European Communities, Communication on ‘Eastern Partnership’, COM (2008) 823, Brussels, December 3, 2008.
Case/Global Insight (2008). Economic Feasibility, General Economic Impact and Implications of a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Georgia. Final Report, 8 May.
UNDP. (2007). Assessment of the Impact of Potential Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Georgia.
K. Maniokas, “Concept of the DCFTA and its implication for Georgia, GEPLAC papers, Tbilisi, 2009
P. Messerlin and others, “An appraisal of the EU’s trade policy towards its Eastern Neighbors: the case of Georgia”, The Center for European Policy Studies, Brussels, 2011
