First Meeting of Customs Sub-Committee as envisaged in the Association Agreement signed between EU and Georgia was held at the Ministry of Finance of Georgia on 18^th March, 2015.

H.E. Nodar Khaduri, Minister of Finance of Georgia met with a delegation of the European Commission led by Mr. Antonis Kastrisianakis, Director of EC Customs and Tax Directorate within the Customs Sub-Committee.

Meeting participants discussed the preliminary results of gradual approximation of commitments envisaged by the agreement.

It is worth noting that a new EU document of cooperation was adopted at the meeting, titled as Strategic Framework of Customs Cooperation between EU and Georgia, which are signed by Pierre Moscovici, EU Commissioner on Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs on behalf of the European Commission and H.E. Nodar Khaduri, Minister of Finance on behalf of Georgia.

Document suggested for signing by EU demonstrates the readiness of EU member states in further deepening cooperation with Georgia. Similar document is already enforced towards Moldova and Ukraine. A new platform of cooperation is suggested to Georgia at the current stage.   

“Signing of a Framework Agreement of Cooperation on Customs between EU and Georgia as suggested at the First Customs Sub-Committee Meeting by EU is a historic moment towards the practical support of development of trade relations. The referred initiative is yet another clear demonstration of support we have been receiving from EU. It is also a confirmation of a solid will of both parties to further integrate Georgia in political, economic and social life of EU. Ministry of Finance of Georgia as a policy-making government agency in the area concerned will do its best to make the customs achievements sustainable in a long-run, thus enabling intensive communication with businesses to make sure that they find best use of all the available resources for introducing EU standards in their operation. I wish to hope that working relationship built on the framework agreement on customs cooperation will serve as a pre-condition for deepened and friendship-driven approximation” noted H.E. Nodar Khaduri, Minister of Finance of Georgia.

Strategic framework agreement on customs cooperation between EU and Georgia envisages collaboration in three main areas: safe and flexible trade corridor, risk management, investments in the modernization of customs.