Deputy Minister for Georgia’s European integration – Marika Rakviashvili, accompanied by directors and experts from the Ministry of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, visited the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and met with President Tsvetan Simeonov. The purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with the Bulgarian experience in the European integration. The meeting was attended by the Ambassador of Georgia to Bulgaria, H.E. Mr. Zurab Beridze.
Deputy Minister Rakviashvili noted that Georgia is expected to sign the EU Association Agreement in June this year, and that the Georgian government has focused on the measures to be undertaken in terms of the expected competition on the EU market.
The Georgian delegation showed interest in the accession process of our country to the EU and its impact on the Bulgarian business and the activities of the Chamber. Among the topics discussed were also the advantages and disadvantages of entering the Schengen Area.
Tsvetan Simeonov presented the benefits of the EU membership, as well as certain faults made in the process of Bulgaria’s accession to the EU, such as the unequal approach to the local farmers unlike their counterparts from the West, and the slowdown in the implementation of the four fundamental for the European market freedoms – the free movement of goods, services, capital and people. The President of the BCCI noted that the government of Georgia has undertaken a number of bold measures towards the enhancement of its economic development, such as the introduction of the e-government and reducing a number of taxes.