US Ambassador Degnan on priorities set by EU for Georgia’s candidacy: govt can move quickly when it wants

US Ambassador Degnan on priorities set by EU for Georgia’s candidacy: govt can move quickly when it wants

We know that the Georgian government can move very quickly when it wants to pass legislation. We have seen that in the expedited legislation last December to abolish the State Inspector Service, US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said on Wednesday in response to the question on the government's readiness to address priorities set by the European Commission for Georgia to receive the candidate status.

 

“The people of Georgia want these reforms to move through quickly so that Georgia can be ready for European Union membership status.  The United States stands ready and willing to help in any way with this process,” Degnan said, attending a conference organized by USAID and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development on renewable energy and investment.

 

She suggested that the next six months would be an “important opportunity” to get started.

 

“There’s no time to waste and there have been many other stakeholders: the people, civil society, opposition parties, and some members of the government as well, who are standing ready to get started on these recommendations. Everyone wants to see a very positive report for Georgia by the end of the year—before that, if possible, but by December most certainly,” she said.

 

Degnan stated that the embassy was studying the issue of an entry of a ship with sanctioned cargo in Batumi.

 

“This is very concerning, and we are tracking this kind of activity everywhere.  We are working with the government agencies, Customs and Revenue Service, the Ministry (of Economy). We have had very good cooperation on following up on reports like this. It is very important, and I know the government takes it seriously that we monitor very carefully for any attempts at sanctions evasion, and we will continue to do so,” Degnan stated.

 

She also said that over the past 30 years, the United States had been working with Georgia to develop its clean, reliable, renewable, affordable energy. 

 

“This is very important for Georgia’s economic development to ensure that Georgia is more independent in its energy and not relying on imported energy supplies,” she said.

 





We know that the Georgian government can move very quickly when it wants to pass legislation. We have seen that in the expedited legislation last December to abolish the State Inspector Service, US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said on Wednesday in response to the question on the government's readiness to address priorities set by the European Commission for Georgia to receive the candidate status.

 

“The people of Georgia want these reforms to move through quickly so that Georgia can be ready for European Union membership status.  The United States stands ready and willing to help in any way with this process,” Degnan said, attending a conference organized by USAID and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development on renewable energy and investment.

 

She suggested that the next six months would be an “important opportunity” to get started.

 

“There’s no time to waste and there have been many other stakeholders: the people, civil society, opposition parties, and some members of the government as well, who are standing ready to get started on these recommendations. Everyone wants to see a very positive report for Georgia by the end of the year—before that, if possible, but by December most certainly,” she said.

 

Degnan stated that the embassy was studying the issue of an entry of a ship with sanctioned cargo in Batumi.

 

“This is very concerning, and we are tracking this kind of activity everywhere.  We are working with the government agencies, Customs and Revenue Service, the Ministry (of Economy). We have had very good cooperation on following up on reports like this. It is very important, and I know the government takes it seriously that we monitor very carefully for any attempts at sanctions evasion, and we will continue to do so,” Degnan stated.

 

She also said that over the past 30 years, the United States had been working with Georgia to develop its clean, reliable, renewable, affordable energy. 

 

“This is very important for Georgia’s economic development to ensure that Georgia is more independent in its energy and not relying on imported energy supplies,” she said.