(g) 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;
(h) promotion of energy efficiency and energy savings in economic and environmentally sound manner;
(i) development and support of renewable energies with a primary focus on hydro resources and promotion of bilateral and regional integration in this field;
(j) 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, and
(k) 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 as well as in compliance with the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community where applicable.
Article 299.
A regular dialogue will take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Article 300.
Georgia will carry out approximation of its legislation to the EU acts and international instruments referred to in the Annex XXV to this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of that Annex.
Chapter 3. Environment
Article 301.
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 EU, 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 302.
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, transboundary 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 303.
The Parties shall, inter alia, exchange information and expertise; cooperate at bilateral, regional, including through the existing structures of cooperation in South Caucasus, 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 304.
1. The cooperation shall cover, inter alia the following objective:
(a) the development of a National Environment Action Plan (NEAP) covering the overall national and sector-related strategic directions of the environment in Georgia as well as institutional and administrative issues;
(b) the promotion of integration of the environment into other policy areas, and
(c) the identification of the necessary human and financial resources.
2. The NEAP will be periodically updated and adopted in accordance with Georgian legislation.
Article 305.
A regular dialogue will take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Article 306.
Georgia will carry out approximation of its legislation to the EU acts and international instruments referred to in Annex XXVI to this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of that Annex.
Chapter 4. Climate Action
Article 307.
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 interdependence existing between bilateral and multilateral commitments in this area.
Article 308.
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, and
(e) mainstreaming of climate considerations into sector policies.
Article 309.
The Parties shall, inter alia, exchange information and expertise; implement joint research activities and exchange of information on cleaner technologies; implement joint activities at regional and international level, 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 transboundary issues and regional cooperation.
Article 310.
Based on mutual interests, the cooperation shall cover, inter alia, the development and implementation of:
(a) national Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA);
(b) Low Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS), including nationally appropriate mitigation actions;
(c) measures to promote technology transfer on the basis of technology needs assessment;
(d) measures related to ozone-depleting substances and fluorinated greenhouse gases.
Article 311.
A regular dialogue will take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Article 312.
Georgia will carry out approximation of its legislation to the EU acts and international instruments referred to in Annex XXVII to this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of that Annex.
Chapter 5. Industrial and Enterprise Policy and Mining
Article 313.
The Parties shall develop and strengthen their cooperation on 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 the EU and Georgian legislation respectively. Enhanced cooperation should improve the administrative and regulatory framework for both EU and Georgian businesses operating in the EU and Georgia, and should be based on the EU's SME and industrial policies, taking into account internationally recognised principles and practices in this field.
Article 314.
To these ends, the Parties shall cooperate in order to:
(a) implement policies for SME development, based on the principles of the Small Business Act, and monitoring of the implementation process through regular dialogue. This cooperation will also include a focus on micro- and craft enterprises, which are extremely important for both the EU 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, including the EU's principles;
(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 EU and Georgian businesses and between these businesses and the authorities in the EU and Georgia;
(f) encourage export promotion activities between the EU and Georgia;
(g) facilitate the modernisation and restructuring of the EU 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 315.
A regular dialogue will take place on the issues covered by this Chapter. This will also involve representatives of EU and Georgian businesses.
Chapter 6. Company Law, Accounting and Auditing and Corporate Governance
Article 316.
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:
(a) on the protection of shareholders, creditors and other stakeholders in line with EU rules in this area;
(b) on the implementation of relevant international standards at national level and gradual approximation with the EU rules in the field of accounting and auditing, and
(c) on further development of corporate governance policy in line with international standards, as well as gradual approximation with the EU rules and recommendations in this area.
Article 317.
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 EU Member States and the national register of companies of Georgia.
Article 318.
A regular dialogue will take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Article 319.
Georgia will carry out approximation of its legislation to the EU acts and international instruments referred to in Annex XXVIII to this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of that Annex.
Chapter 7. Financial Services
Article 320.
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 area of 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 321.
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 322.
A regular dialogue will take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Article 323.
Georgia will carry out approximation of its legislation to the EU acts and international instruments referred to in Annex XV-A to this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of that Annex.
Chapter 8. Cooperation In the Field of Information Society
Article 324.
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 325.
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, improving network security and developing public online services, and
(b) exchange of information, best practices and experience to promote the development of a comprehensive regulatory framework for electronic communications, and in particular strengthen the administrative capacity of the national independent regulator, foster a better use of spectrum resources and promote interoperability of networks in Georgia, and between Georgia and the EU.
Article 326.
The Parties shall promote cooperation between EU regulators and the national regulatory authorities in the field of electronic communications of Georgia.
Article 327.
Georgia will carry out approximation of its legislation to the EU acts and international instruments referred to in Annex XV-B to this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of that Annex.
Chapter 9. Tourism
Article 328.
The Parties shall cooperate in the field of tourism, with the aim of strengthening the development of a competitive and sustainable tourism industry as a generator of economic growth and empowerment, employment and international exchange.
Article 329.
Cooperation at bilateral and European level shall be based on the following principles:
(a) respect for the integrity and interests of local communities, particularly in rural areas, bearing in mind local development needs and priorities;
(b) the importance of cultural heritage, and (c) positive interaction between tourism and environmental preservation.
Article 330.
The cooperation shall focus on the following topics:
(a) exchange of information, best practices, experience and ‘know-how';
(b) maintenance of partnership between public, private and community interests in order to ensure the sustainable development of tourism;
(c) promotion and development of tourism flows, products and markets, infrastructure, human resources and institutional structures;
(d) development and implementation of efficient policies;
(e) tourism training and capacity building in order to improve service standards, and
(f) development and promotion of, inter alia, community-based tourism.
Article 331.
A regular dialogue will take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Chapter 10. Agriculture and Rural Development
Article 332.
The Parties shall cooperate to promote agricultural and rural development, in particular through progressive convergence of policies and legislation.
Article 333.
Cooperation between the Parties in the field of agriculture and rural development shall cover, inter alia, the following areas:
(a) facilitating the mutual understanding of agricultural and rural development policies;
(b) enhancing the administrative capacities at central and local level to plan, evaluate, implement and enforce policies in accordance with EU regulations and best practices;
(c) promoting the modernisation and the sustainability of the agricultural production;
(d) sharing knowledge and best practices of rural development policies to promote economic well-being for rural communities;
(e) improving the competitiveness of the agricultural sector and the efficiency and transparency for all stakeholders in the markets;
(f) promoting quality policies and their control mechanisms, including geographical indications and organic farming;
(g) wine production and agro tourism;
(h) disseminating knowledge and promoting extension services to agricultural producers, and
(i) striving for the harmonisation of issues dealt within the framework of international organisations of which both Parties are members.
Article 334.
A regular dialogue will take place on the issues covered by this Chapter.
Chapter 11. Fisheries and Maritime Governance
Article 335.
1. The Parties shall cooperate on the following mutually beneficial areas of common interest in the fisheries sector, including conservation and management of living aquatic resources, inspection and control, data collection, and the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as defined in the FAO International Plan of Action (IPOA) of 2001 to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
2. That cooperation will respect the international obligations of the Parties concerning management and conservation of living aquatic resources.
Article 336.
The Parties shall take joint actions, exchange information and provide support to each other in order to promote:
(a) good governance and best practices in fisheries management with a view to ensuring conservation and management of fish stocks in a sustainable manner, and based on the principle of ecosystem approach;
(b) responsible fishing and fisheries management consistent with the principles of sustainable development, so as to conserve fish stocks and ecosystems in a healthy state, and
(c) regional cooperation, including through Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, as appropriate.