European politicians have spoken highly of China's commitment to building a community of a shared future for mankind, a concept that has been guiding China's interaction with the rest of the world.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service

On the 9th of April 2019, the WHO European High-Level Conference on Non-Communicable Diseases “Meeting non-communicable disease targets to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Europe” has started in the “Yildiz” hotel of Ashgabat city.

The heads and representatives of the Ministry of Health Protection and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, European Regional Office of the World Health Organization, as well as the responsible representatives working in the sphere of healthcare from around 50 countries across the world, including the employees of international organizations, representatives of local and accredited in Turkmenistan mass media participated to the event. 

During the opening ceremony, the Minister of Health Protection and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan gave a speech and read the Congratulatory Message of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov addressed to the participants of the WHO European High-Level Conference on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases.      

Then the video address of the Director-General of the World Health Organization Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was shown to the participants of the Conference where he noted valuable contribution of Turkmenistan in the implementation of WHO international initiatives and wished to the participants of the Conference fruitful work.

Then Dr. Piroska Östlin, Acting Regional Director for Europe of the World Health Organization made an address.  Highly appraising the long-term cooperation of the WHO with Turkmenistan, the guest has presented to the Turkmen side a Certificate for Valuable Input of Turkmenistan in Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases.        

During the first day of the session, the representatives of relevant agencies of Turkmenistan, as well as the European Regional Office of WHO gave speeches at the event.  It was noted that the adoption in 2013 of Ashgabat Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases in the Context of Health 2020 has become a milestone event for European region.  This Document has affirmed the main regulations and obligations in the area of controlling the NCDs and became a vector in perfecting the healthcare systems, strengthening the monitoring of NCD programmes, including the preventive measures and preparation of plans on the national level.                    

In addition, the participants spoke about the work done up to the current time by the WHO member-states and partners which contributed to the attainment of positive results on the control of NCDs on global level, thus making an input in the process of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Agenda 2030.   

As the result of the first day of the Conference, a briefing was organized for the political scientists and the stakeholders.  During the event, the participants received information on the activities realized by the WHO in cooperation with Turkmenistan in the sphere of prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.     

Tomorrow, on the 10 of April 2019, the WHO European High-Level Conference will continue its work. 

In her opening speech at the PACE Spring Session, the President today reiterated the importance of preserving “the common home which provides a place to live for 830 million people and is governed by a common legal framework that protects the individual against arbitrary decisions and authoritarianism and defines our rights and fundamental freedoms”.

She called on PACE members to meet the expectations of “millions of Europeans who are reaping the tangible benefits of closer union between the peoples and nations of Europe, for which the Council of Europe has worked”.

For the President, the 830 million Europeans do not aspire to “a Europe of division where dialogue gives way to confrontation, a Europe torn apart once again by geopolitical tensions, where new borders and new walls would spring up. The European acquis, the values that unite us and the common legal framework that we have succeeded in building are more important for our fellow citizens who want a Europe of peace, prosperity, co-operation and dialogue.”

“I am not suggesting for one minute that we should compromise our values – that would be a betrayal of the European project. All members of our common European home have the same duty to abide by the house rules. They also have the same duty to help it run smoothly, including by honouring their financial obligations, just as they have equal rights - and an obligation - to participate in the co-operation mechanisms and forums for dialogue that exist within our common home,” she concluded.

On 3 April 2019, an EU mission from Brussels led by John Clarke, Director of International Affairs at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Agriculture, visited an EU-supported rural development project in the Tetritskaro municipality of Georgia.

Clarke met with the members of Tetritskaro Local Action Group (LAG) and the project implementing partner organisation, the Association Rural Development for Future Georgia.

Afterwards, he visited an EU-funded cheese factory in the village of Tsintskaro. The director of the factory explained the specifics of dairy processing and shared her plans for the business’s development with the EU’s support under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD). The guests had an opportunity to observe the cheese-making process and taste different varieties of cheese made at the factory.

The EU supports rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD programme. Implemented since 2013 with a total budget of €179.5 million, the main goal of ENPARD is to reduce rural poverty.

https://www.euneighbours.eu/en/east/stay-informed/news/georgia-eu-officials-visit-tetritskaro-municipality-evaluate-results

Dadari, in Tbilisi, is much more than just a toy company. Of the firm’s seven employees, three have learning disabilities. All of the firm's products comply with EU standards.

The toys are made from solid wood and painted in organic colours. Dadari was able to expand its business after obtaining 25,000 Georgian Lari – just over €8,000 – from one of the banks.

The microfinance was made possible thanks to credit provided by the EU. This company’s experience is a great example of how microfinance can foster entrepreneurship.

In Georgia, the EU, through the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the EU4Business initiative, is working with local lenders to help very small businesses get the money they need to grow.

As part of its programme, the EIB made US$5 million (€4.4 million) available to one of the banks in Georgia.

Microfinance support to this Georgian toy producer was provided under the EU-funded Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) Initiative East.

The loan guarantee programme is the centrepiece of the DCFTA Initiative East – funded by the EU under the EU4Business initiative – which aims to strengthen economic development in the countries which have signed an association agreement with the EU (Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine) by providing targeted financial and technical support to SMEs in these three countries.

100 Young European Ambassadors from the European Union and its six Eastern partner countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine) are gathering this week in Brussels to celebrate the achievements of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) in the past decade.

 "Young people are at the heart of our cooperation with our partners. The Young European Ambassadors is a unique initiative providing a platform to listen to and discuss ideas, which have a direct impact on the lives of young people across the region," said Lawrence Meredith, Director Neighbourhood East, European Commission.

 The 10-year-old Partnership has resulted in over 30.000 young people participating in Erasmus+ volunteering, exchanges and youth mobility projects, and over 6.000 young people benefiting from the opportunities provided by the EU4Youth since 2018. Bright young students from the EaP region now also have the opportunity to attend the first European School outside of EU borders, which officially opened its doors in Tbilisi in September 2018.

 The group of Young European Ambassadors, that are joined by a number of social media influencers from across the six countries, are meeting EU officials to discuss the achievements of the Partnership and its future goals. They are also participating in a large flash mob on Thursday 15 February at the heart of the EU quarter in Brussels which will feature national dances and costumes. 

 Geno Kutashvili, Young European Ambassador from Georgia stated “I can boldly say that the Eastern Partnership totally changed my life (not only mine, but that of every single Georgian). This joint initiative is the best project ever because it gives me and my country a lot of opportunities. I have a better life now than 10 years ago. We are stronger together!”

 Close to five hundred young people from the EU and its eastern neighbourhood currently act as ‘Young European Ambassadors’ (YEAs). These Ambassadors regularly organise local community events in their countries and participate in international fora to spread the word about the initiative.

 The event is organised by the EU Neighbours East project in collaboration with EU institutions. A series of other events are planned throughout the year to celebrate the Anniversary of the Eastern Partnership. Find out more on the dedicated website: www.eap10.eu

Background:

Launched in 2009 as a joint policy initiative, the Eastern Partnership aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union, its Member States and its six Eastern neighbours: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Over the past ten years, collective efforts have brought considerable benefits to the citizens of these countries including more trade, mobility, increased economic development and better quality of life. 

This week, a group of 20 teachers from Georgia visited the Belgian capital of Brussels. All the teachers came from public schools in Georgia’s Pankisi Gorge region.

They attended meetings in Brussels to learn about the local education system. The teachers also gained a better understanding of the European approach to education.

This was the first ever visit of Georgian public school teachers and principals from the Pankisi Gorge to Brussels.

On 30 January, the EU presented the “2019 Association Implementation Report on Georgia”. In line with the revised European Neighbourhood Policy, the report sets out the state of play of Georgia’s commitments under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement (AA) since the meeting of the EU-Georgia Association Council of 5 February 2018 and ahead of its next meeting of 5 March 2019.

According to the report, the implementation of commitments stemming from the AA, including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), has overall continued within the agreed timelines. The revised Association Agenda (2017-2020) sets jointly agreed priorities for the further implementation of the AA.

The EU is supporting the AA implementation process through several programmes and projects. The EU-funded Facility for the Implementation of the Association Agreement is one of the agreement’s flagship projects.

Find out more

2019 Association Implementation Report on Georgia   

Full text of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement

On 9 November 2018, newly selected Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) will meet H.E. Carl Hartzell, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, at an official meeting in Tbilisi.

68 young Georgians were selected to take part in the third round of the YEAs initiative. During the meeting with the Head of the EU Delegation Carl Hartzell, Young European Ambassadors will present their previous activities, discuss the ways of empowering youth and initiate plans of future activities. Young European Ambassadors, who have actively participated in various events in Georgia and abroad, will share their volunteering experience and to receive certificates in recognition of their active role.

Within the week of 12 -16 November newly selected Young European Ambassadors from Georgia will visit “Young Farmers Centers” in Tetritskaro Municipality. They will make presentations in order to raise awareness about the European Union, shared values, inform about the EU funded youth initiatives and opportunities for Georgian youth in the field of education and mobility as well as brainstorm on the next activities.

The ‘Young European Ambassadors’ initiative aims to foster cooperation and sustainable links between young people and youth organisations from the European Union (EU) and its Eastern Partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine. The initiative facilitates the mutual exchange of ideas and information on the EU, as well as the engagement of young people in informative activities. It is focused on people-to-people contacts and dialogue-driven activities that contribute to an enhanced understanding and perception of the EU and a greater appreciation of its relationships with the Eastern Neighbourhood.

More information:

Young European Ambassadors Initiative

‘Young European Neighbours’ Network group on Facebook

Young European Ambassadors in photos and videos

Official Facebook Page of the European Union Delegation to Georgia

On 9 November 2018, newly selected Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) will meet H.E. Carl Hartzell, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, at an official meeting in Tbilisi.

68 young Georgians were selected to take part in the third round of the YEAs initiative. During the meeting with the Head of the Delegation Hartzell, Young European Ambassadors will present their previous activities, discuss the ways of empowering youth and initiate plans of future activities. Young European Ambassadors, who have actively participated in various events in Georgia and abroad, will share their volunteering experience and to receive certificates in recognition of their active role.

Within the week of 12 -16 November newly selected Young European Ambassadors from Georgia will visit “Young Farmers Centers” in Tetritskaro Municipality. They will make presentations in order to raise awareness about the European Union, shared values, inform about the EU funded youth initiatives and opportunities for Georgian youth in the field of education and mobility as well as brainstorm on the next activities.

The ‘Young European Ambassadors’ initiative aims to foster cooperation and sustainable links between young people and youth organisations from the European Union (EU) and its Eastern Partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine. The initiative facilitates the mutual exchange of ideas and information on the EU, as well as the engagement of young people in informative activities. It is focused on people-to-people contacts and dialogue-driven activities that contribute to an enhanced understanding and perception of the EU and a greater appreciation of its relationships with the Eastern Neighbourhood.

Young European Ambassadors Initiative

‘Young European Neighbours’ Network group on Facebook

Young European Ambassadors in photos and videos

Official Facebook Page of the European Union Delegation to Georgia