75 Embassy of Georgia, Information Provided in Response to Questions from US.
Senator Ben Cardin, Aug. 29, 2017.
431
Ibid. 432
European Commission, Trade Policy, Countries and Regions Georgia http://ec.europa.eu/ trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/georgia (visited Dec. 31, 2017); European Commission, ‘‘EU-Georgia Association Agreement Fully Enters Into Force July 1, 2016. European Commission, Commission Progress Report Georgia Meets Criteria for Visa Liberalisation Dec. 18, 2015. North
Atlantic Treaty Organization, Relations with Georgia Aug. 23, 2017. The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $63 million for Georgia in this account for FY. Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, 2018, SS. Rept. 115-153, at 51. The legislation awaits consideration by the full Senate. Georgian population.
430
According to the Georgian government, several pro-Russian groups
are active in the country, including the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies and Russkiy Mir Foundation, two well-known institutions that the Kremlin uses to exert its influence abroad (see Chapter Despite these ongoing pressures, Georgia completed an Association Agreement and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU in June 2014, both important steps in the integration process.
432
In addition, the country was granted visa-free travel by the EU in December And at NATO’s 2014 summit in Wales, the Alliance approved a Substantial
NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP), which includes defense capacity building, training, exercises,
strengthened liaison, and opportunities to develop interoper- ability with Allied forces.’’
434
Cooperation in this area was given
a significant boost at the 2014 NATO Summit in Wales, where Allied leaders endorsed a Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP), including defense capacity building, training, exercises, strengthened liaison, and opportunities to develop interoperability with Allied forces. These measures aim to strengthen Georgia’s ability to defend itself as well as to advance its preparations towards NATO membership. The United States has also provided substantial assistance to Georgia since the Russian invasion in 2008, though the Trump Administration has requested sharp cuts in funding. Georgia received
$47.5 million through the Assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia Account in FY for FY, the Administration requested only $28 million.
435
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