Technical assistance and consultations of high level Lithuanian experts to Georgia and Moldova on implementation of the association agreements with the EU

Client: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2014/09 – 2015/11

The project aimed at implementation of EU-Georgia and EU-Moldova Association Agreements (AA), through needs based high-level Lithuanian expert assistance to further develop Georgian and Moldovan institutional and procedural basis and to properly address substantive issues arising from implementation needs. Project activities focused on technical assistance and high-level consultations of Lithuanian experts based on real demand of Georgian and Moldovan authorities. ESTEP mobilised a group of Lithuanian high-level experts on EU coordination and sectorial issues who advised Georgia and Moldova on adaptation of institutional system of EU affairs coordination suitable for the implementation of the AA, planning of the implementation of the AA (setting priorities, planning of specific measures, its implementation, coordination and progress monitoring), specific sectorial issues related to implementation of Association Agreement, including planning of legal harmonization with the EU law. Study visits to Lithuania were organised for Georgian and Moldovan specialists in order to tackle concrete issues faced at home by discussing them with Lithuanian ministerial experts and studying Lithuanian experience gained during implementation of the Association (Europe) Agreements with the EU.

High-level expert consultations have strengthened the capacities of Georgian and Moldovan authorities to properly plan and implement the Association Agreements with the EU and to monitor progress in the implementation of these agreements. Successful implementation of the Association Agreements with the EU ensures faster and closer integration of the countries with the EU, which in turn promotes political, economic and social modernization of the countries, sustainable growth, and contributes to security and stability in the region.

The project was funded by the Development Cooperation and Democracy Promotion Programme