Baku, February 20, AZERTAC

Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Monday said the eighth meeting of the Association Council between the European Union and Georgia would discuss the Black Sea submarine electricity cable project, a project for a new transmission route to connect the South Caucasus grid to Europe, according to Agenda.ge.

Davitashvili said updated information on the project would be shared with European colleagues during the meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, with the process moving to the implementation phase and “a lot of information already collected”.

He added further promotion of direct ferry connections would also be discussed as part of “important projects” in the direction of connectivity, and noted a “detailed study” had been carried out for the initiative, and support schemes were needed to be put in place.

He added the Council would also discuss an underwater fibre optic cable project, implemented with Romania, as an “alternative, reliable channel” to accelerate the formation of a “digital hub” in Georgia, as well as the inclusion of the country in the Unified Roaming Platform.

Davitashvili said trade and economic ties were “important directions” of cooperation with the bloc and added the Government had brought together the “main priority” projects under the umbrella of connectivity.

The official pointed out the meeting would also discuss how the country could integrate into the European single market in an “accelerated mode” after being granted the EU membership candidate status in December. He added a “detailed action plan” had been prepared and submitted to the EU to facilitate the process.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze earlier today left for his first official visit to Brussels to hold meetings with officials of EU and NATO bodies.