Cooperation shall aim at:
(a) further strengthening the capacity of the national statistical system, focusing on the sound legal basis, production of adequate data and metadata, dissemination policy and user friendliness, taking into account various groups of users, in particular public and private sectors, academic community and other users;
(b) fine-tuning of data provision, taking into account the application of relevant international methodologies, including classifications;
(c) enhancing the professional and management capacity of the national statistical staff to facilitate the application of statistical standards and to contribute to the development of the Georgian statistical system;
(d) exchanging experience between the Parties on the development of statistical know-how; and
(e) promoting total quality management of all statistical production processes and dissemination.
Article 272.
The Parties shall further cooperate, inter alia, on the areas of:
(a) macroeconomic statistics, including national accounts, foreign trade statistics, balance of payments statistics, foreign direct investment statistics;
(b) demographic statistics, including censuses and social statistics;
(c) agricultural statistics, including agricultural censuses and environment statistics;
(d) business statistics, including business registers and use of administrative sources for statistical purposes;
(e) energy statistics, including balances; (f} regional statistics;
(g) horizontal activities, including statistical classifications, quality management, training, dissemination, use of modern information technologies; and
(h) other relevant areas.
Article 273.
The Parties shall, inter alia, exchange information and expertise and shall develop their cooperation, taking into account the already accumulated experience in the reform of the statistical system. The emphasis in the statistical data production process shall be the further development of sample surveys and use of administrative records, while taking into account the need to reduce the response burden. The data shall be relevant for the designing and monitoring of policies in key areas of social and economic life.
Article 274.
A regular dialogue may take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Title VI. Other Cooperation Policies
Chapter 1. Transport
Article 275.
The Parties shall:
(a) expand and strengthen their transport cooperation in order to contribute to the development of sustainable transport systems;
(b) promote efficient, safe and secure transport operations as well as intermodality and interoperability of transport systems; and
(c) endeavour to enhance the main transport links between their territories.
Article 276.
This cooperation shall cover, inter alia, the following areas:
(a) development of a sustainable national transport policy covering all modes of transport, particularly with a view to ensuring environmentally friendly, efficient, safe and secure transport systems and promoting the integration of these considerations in the sphere of transport into other policy areas;
(b) development of sector strategies in light of the national transport policy, including legal requirements for the upgrading of technical equipment and transport fleets;
(c) strengthening of the infrastructure policy in order to better identify and evaluate infrastructure projects in the various modes of transport;
(d) development of funding policies focusing on maintenance, capacity constraints and missing link infrastructure as well as activating and promoting the participation of the private sector in transport projects;
(e) accession to relevant international transport organisations and agreements including procedures for ensuring strict implementation and effective enforcement of international transport agreements and conventions;
(f) scientific and technical cooperation and exchange of information for the development and improvement of technologies in transport, such as intelligent transport systems; and
(g) promotion of the use of intelligent transport systems and information technology in managing and operating all relevant modes of transport as well as supporting intermodality and cooperation in the use of space systems and commercial applications facilitating transport.
Article 277.
1. Cooperation shall also aim at improving the movement of passengers and goods, increasing fluidity of transport flows between Georgia, the UK and third countries in the region, by removing administrative, technical and other obstacles, improving transport networks and upgrading the infrastructure in particular on the main networks connecting the Parties. This cooperation shall include actions to facilitate border-crossings.
2. Cooperation shall include information exchange and joint activities:
(a) at regional level, in particular taking into consideration and integrating progress achieved under various regional transport cooperation arrangements and other transport initiatives; and
(b) at international level, including with regard to international transport organisations and international agreements and conventions ratified by the Parties.
Article 278.
A regular dialogue may take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Chapter 2. Energy Cooperation
Article 279.
The cooperation should be based on the principles of partnership, mutual interest, transparency and predictability, taking into account the need to ensure access to secure, environmentally friendly and affordable energy.
Article 280.
The cooperation may cover, inter alia, the following areas:
(a) energy strategies and policies;
(b) the development of competitive, transparent and efficient energy markets allowing third parties non-discriminatory access to networks and consumer, including the development of the relevant regulatory framework, as required and with reference to Article 210;
(c) development of an attractive and stable investment climate by addressing institutional, legal, fiscal and other conditions;
(d) energy infrastructures of common interest, in order to diversify energy sources, suppliers and transportation routes in an economic and environmentally sound manner;
(e) enhancement of security of energy supply;
(f) enhancement and strengthening of long-term stability and security of energy trade, transit and transport, and pricing policies, including a general cost based system for the transmission of energy resources, on a mutually beneficial and non- discriminatory basis in accordance with international rules, including the Energy Charter Treaty and with reference to Article 210;
(g) promotion of energy efficiency and energy savings in economic and environmentally sound manner;
(h) development and support of diverse types of renewable energies and promotion of bilateral and regional integration in this field;
(i) scientific and technical cooperation and exchange of information for the development and improvement of technologies in energy production, transportation, supply and end use with particular attention to energy efficient and environmentally friendly technologies;
(j) cooperation on nuclear safety, security and radiation protection, in accordance with the principles and standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the relevant international treaties and conventions concluded within the framework of the IAEA; and
(k) Cooperation in education, focusing on energy security in the context of technical, economic, environmental, policy and legal aspects of energy, including development of mutually beneficial academic programmes and courses, exchange of academic staff and research assistants for main purposes of teaching, exchange of students for study and research, together with, exchange of documentation, pedagogical information and research material.
Article 281.
A regular dialogue may take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Chapter 3. Environment
Article 282.
The Parties shall develop and strengthen their cooperation on environmental issues, thereby contributing to the long-term objective of sustainable development and greening the economy. It is expected that enhanced environment protection will bring benefits to citizens and businesses in Georgia and in the UK, including through improved public health, preserved natural resources, increased economic and environmental efficiency, as well as use of modern, cleaner technologies contributing to more sustainable production patterns. Cooperation shall be conducted considering the interests of the Parties on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, as well as taking into account the interdependence existing between the Parties in the field of environment protection, and multilateral agreements in the field.
Article 283.
1. Cooperation shall aim at preserving, protecting, improving and rehabilitating the quality of the environment, protecting human health, sustainable utilisation of natural resources and promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or global environmental problems, including in the areas of:
(a) environmental governance and horizontal issues, including strategic planning, environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment, education and training, monitoring and environmental information systems, inspection and enforcement, environmental liability, combating environmental crime, regional cooperation, public access to environmental information, decision-making processes and effective administrative and judicial review procedures;
(b) air quality;
(c) water quality and resource management, including flood risk management, water scarcity and droughts as well as marine environment;
(d) waste management;
(e) nature protection, including forestry and conservation of biological diversity;
(f) industrial pollution and industrial hazards; and.
(g) chemicals management.
2. Cooperation shall also aim at integrating environment into policy areas other than environment policy.
Article 284.
The Parties shall, inter alia, exchange information and expertise; cooperate at bilateral, regional and international levels, especially with regard to multilateral environment agreements ratified by the Parties, and cooperate in the framework of relevant agencies, as appropriate.
Article 285.
The cooperation shall cover, inter alia, the following objective:
(a) the promotion of integration of the environment into other policy areas; and
(b) the identification of the necessary human and financial resources.
Article 286.
A regular dialogue may take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Chapter 4. Climate Action
Article 287.
The Parties shall develop and strengthen their cooperation to combat climate change. Cooperation shall be conducted considering the interests of the Parties on the basis of equality and mutual benefit and taking into account the inter- dependence existing between bilateral and multilateral commitments in this area.
Article 288.
Cooperation shall aim at mitigating and adapting to climate change, as well as promoting measures at international level, including in the areas of:
(a) mitigation of climate change;
(b) adaptation to climate change;
(c) carbon trading;
(d) research, development, demonstration, deployment and diffusion of safe and sustainable low carbon and adaptation technologies.
Article 289.
The Parties shall, inter alia, exchange information and expertise; implement joint research activities and exchange of information on cleaner technologies; implement joint activities, including with regard to multilateral environment agreements ratified by the Parties and joint activities in the framework of relevant agencies as appropriate. The Parties shall pay special attention to regional cooperation.
Article 290.
Based on mutual interests, the cooperation may cover, inter alia, the development and implementation of:
(a) nationally appropriate mitigation actions;
(b) measures to promote technology transfer on the basis of Nationally Determined Contributions;
(c) measures related to ozone-depleting substances and fluorinated greenhouse gases.
Article 291.
A regular dialogue may take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Chapter 5. Industrial and Enterprise Policy, Innovation and Mining
Article 292.
The Parties shall develop and strengthen their cooperation on innovation, industrial and enterprise policy, thereby improving the business environment for all economic operators, but with particular emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as they are defined in UK and Georgian legislation respectively. Enhanced cooperation should improve the administrative and regulatory framework for both UK and Georgian businesses operating in the UK and Georgia, taking into account internationally recognised principles and practices in this field.
Article 293.
To these ends, the Parties shall cooperate in order to:
(a) implement policies for SME development. This cooperation will also include a focus on startup and craft enterprises, which are extremely important for both the UK and Georgian economies;
(b) create better framework conditions, via the exchange of information and good practices, thereby contributing to improving competitiveness. This cooperation will include the management of structural issues (restructuring) such as environment and energy;
(c) simplify and rationalise regulations and regulatory practice, with specific focus on exchange of good practices on regulatory techniques;
(d) encourage the development of innovation policy, via the exchange of information and good practices regarding the commercialisation of research and development (including support instruments for technology-based business start- ups, cluster development and access to finance);
(e) encourage greater contacts between UK and Georgian businesses and between these businesses and the authorities in the UK and Georgia;
(f) encourage export promotion activities between the UK and Georgia;
(g) facilitate the modernisation and restructuring of the UK and Georgian industry in sectors, where appropriate;
(h) develop and strengthen the cooperation in the area of mining industries, and production of raw materials, with the objectives of promoting mutual understanding, improvement of the business environment, and information exchange and cooperation in the area of non-energy mining, in particular metallic ores and industrial minerals. The exchange of information will cover developments in mining and raw materials sector, trade in raw materials, best practices in relation to sustainable development of mining industries as well as training, skills and health and safety.
Article 294.
A regular dialogue may take place on the issues covered by this Chapter. This will also involve representatives of UK and Georgian businesses.
Chapter 6. Company Law, Accounting and Auditing and Corporate Governance
Article 295.
1. Recognising the importance of an effective set of rules and practices in the areas of company law and corporate governance, as well as in accounting and auditing, for creating a fully-functioning market economy and for fostering trade, the Parties agree to cooperate in relation to:
a) protecting shareholders, creditors and other stakeholders;
b) using relevant international standards at national level, and developing appropriate domestic systems, in the field of accounting and auditing;
c) further developing corporate governance policy in line with international standards, in particular the OECD Principles on Corporate Governance.
Article 296.
The Parties will aim at sharing information and expertise on both existing systems and relevant new developments in these areas. In addition, the Parties will seek to ensure effective information exchange between business registers of the UK and the national register of companies of Georgia.
Article 297.
A regular dialogue may take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Chapter 7. Financial Services
Article 298.
Recognising the relevance of an effective set of rules and practices in the areas of financial services to establish a fully- functioning market economy and in order to foster trade exchanges among both Parties, the Parties agree to cooperate in the areaof financial services in line with the following objectives:
(a) supporting the process of adapting financial services regulation to the needs of an open market economy;
(b) ensuring effective and adequate protection of investors and other consumers of financial services;
(c) ensuring the stability and integrity of the Georgian financial system in its entirety;
(d) promoting cooperation between different actors of the financial system, including regulators and supervisors; and
(e) ensuring independent and effective supervision.
Article 299.
1. The Parties shall encourage cooperation between relevant regulatory and supervisory authorities, including information exchange, sharing of expertise on financial markets and other such measures.
2. Special attention shall be paid to the development of administrative capacity of such authorities, including through personnel exchange and joint training.
Article 300.
A regular dialogue may take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Article 301.
The parties shall promote gradual approximation to recognized international standards on regulation and supervision in the area of financial services.
Chapter 8. Cooperation In the Field of Information Society
Article 302.
The Parties shall promote cooperation on the development of the Information Society to benefit citizens and businesses through the widespread availability of information and communication technologies (ICT) and through better quality of services at affordable prices. This cooperation should aim at facilitating access to electronic communications markets, encourage competition and investment in the sector.
Article 303.
Cooperation Will Cover, Inter Alia, the Following Subjects:
(a) exchange of information and best practices on the implementation of national information society initiatives, including, inter alia, those aiming at promoting broadband access, safe internet, improving network security and developing public online services, new technologies and ICT innovations; and
(b) exchange of information, best practices and experience to promote the development of a comprehensive policy and regulatory framework for electronic communications, and in particular strengthen the institutional capacity of the national independent regulator and foster a better use of spectrum resources.
Article 304.
The Parties shall promote cooperation between the national administrations and regulatory authorities in the field of electronic communications of Georgia and the UK.