Georgian Foreign Minister, Maia Panjikidze, met EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle in Brussels on November 14 to discuss preparations for the initialing of the Association Agreement at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius later this month.

“They agreed that after the initialling of the Association Agreement… the focus will shift to the importance of Georgia remaining on track for the signature of this agreement next year and continue with reforms needed for its implementation,” Commissioner Füle’s office said in a press release after the meeting.

“They also discussed the recent presidential elections which have marked further progress on Georgia's democratic credentials. With the period of cohabitation between president and prime minister from different political camps coming to an end Commissioner Füle stressed that it was vital that Georgia remains a pluralistic democracy with effective checks and balances, further strengthening democratic institutions and promoting constructive relations between the ruling coalition and opposition.”

Commissioner Füle reiterated EU’s concerns over ‘borderisation’ activities along the administrative boundary lines of Georgia’s breakaway regions.

Also on November 14 Panjikidze met Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service Helga Schmid, according to the Georgian Foreign Ministry.