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TSU Institute for European Studies Marks 10th Foundation Anniversary

24 March, 2017
On March 24, a solemn event “European Union 60. EU’s Past, Present and Future” was held to mark the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Institute for European Studies of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and the 60th anniversary of signing the Treaty of Rome.

Giorgi Sharvashidze, Rector of TSU; Nino Lapiashvili, director of the Institute for European Studies; Viktor Dolidze, State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration; Nino Bolkvadze, director of the Information Center on NATO and EU; Antonio Enrico Bartoli, Italian Ambassador to Georgia; Johannes (Jos) Douma, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Georgia; Didier Leroy, Charge d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of France; Carlo Natale, Charge d’Affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation to Georgia, professors and students attended the event.

Since 2007, several hundreds of students have successfully graduated from the European studies program and got jobs in the public sector, international or non-governmental organizations. On the sideline of the event, diplomas were awarded to the graduates of the Institute for European Studies.

Rector of TSU, Giorgi Sharvashidze said: “The Treaty of Rome was signed 60 years ago and it paved the way for founding united Europe. The Institute for European Studies was set up 10 years ago and its activities are very successful. Since the day of its establishment 200 students have graduated from the Institute and all of them got jobs. It means that employment opportunities for those students who select European studies are very good.”

“The European Union, the European Commission and the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia have made a great contribution to the establishment of the Institute for European Studies. It was a very courageous step in that period, when we decided to create the first interdisciplinary institute and English-language master’s program in European studies. With the EU’s financial support, we launched a PhD program. We are actively cooperating with the parliamentary committee on European integration as well as with the Office of the State Minister on European and NATO integration issues. Our students have an exclusive opportunity to undergo internships at the State Minister’s Office and directly familiarize themselves with the work process,” Nino Lapiashvili, director of the Institute for European Studies, said.

“The European studies program helped us study Europe comprehensively, from both economic and historical points of view. We had the best professors, interesting debates. Georgia is a part of Europe, the country with European policy course, and this program just serves to study it,” Giorgi Gabunia, graduate of the European Studies Program said. 

The Institute for European Studies (IES) was established at the Tbilisi State University with the support of European Union through its local Delegation to Georgia under TACIS programme in 2007.  The Institute offers the following courses: Economics of EU Integration; EU’s financial and monetary policies; EU Law; Competition policy; Europeanization and Euro-integration theories; EU energy policy; free trade and foreign direct investments. Students also have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the aspects of EU-Georgia relations, get relevant knowledge about European and EU history as well as certain aspects of European cultural mosaic.  

An exhibition was opened on the sideline of the solemn event, where the texts, photo materials and documents depicting the key stages of EU history and its major achievements were displayed. A discussion was held on the future of the European Union and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between Georgia and EU. The event was organized by the Embassy of Italy to Georgia.

“Important treaty was signed in Rome 60 years ago, establishing the European Economic Community and the Euratom Treaty. It was followed by more integration, more development and more welfare. We decided to mark this day in Tbilisi, because Georgia is an integral part of Europe. At the same time, Georgia is a future member of European and Euro-Atlantic community. So, we are celebrating this day together with Europeans. We are discussing various issues related to EU’s past and future, as well as Georgia’s role in this process,” Viktor Dolidze, State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, said.

“We are celebrating Europe’s birthday – 60 years of unprecedented peace and welfare. Everything started in Rome 60 years ago. But while we are celebrating Europe’s birthday, the latter faces a number of problems, such as economic crisis, migration crisis and loss of faith in the European perspective. However, other countries, among them Georgia, look at Europe as their future. Today we are also celebrating Georgia’s well-deserved visa liberalisation, which will enter into force in a couple of days,” Antonio Enrico Bartoli, Italian Ambassador to Georgia, said.


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