The EU recognises the valuable contribution that civil society makes to Georgian reform and development and supports it in a variety of ways.
The EU provides financial support to civil society actions through instruments such as the ENI, European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities thematic programme and Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP).
The EU also holds regular consultations with civil society. The main framework for this is the Georgian Civil Society National Platform, which was established in 2010 and includes over 70 organisations.
Guided by their common values, the EU supports peace and stability in Georgia as well as programmes of political and economic reform to enable social and economic development.
In June 2014, the EU and Georgia signed an Association Agreement (AA), which entered into force on July 1 2016. This, along with the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) Agreement, builds a foundation for far-reaching Georgian political and economic integration with the EU. The ambition for Georgia includes ever increasing democracy and rule of law, human rights, good governance and economic development.
On March 1, 2017, the citizens of Georgia have been granted the freedom to travel to the Schengen Area member states. The regulation has come into force on 28 March, 2017.
