Cooperation with International Organizations

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) – since 2020

Since June 11, 2020, Ajara Autonomous Republic is a full member of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), as well as its Black Sea and the Balkans Commission that enables the region to be fully involved in CPMR policy work and cooperation projects.

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions brings together 150 regions from 24 states from the European Union and beyond. Through its extensive network of contacts within the EU institutions and national governments, the CPMR has, since its creation in 1973, been targeting its action towards ensuring that the needs and interests of its Member Regions are taken into account in policies with a high territorial impact. 

It focuses mainly on social, economic and territorial cohesion, maritime policies and blue growth, and accessibility. European governance, energy and climate change, neighborhood and development also represent important areas of activity for the association.

In 2020 and 2022, Mr. Tornike Rijvadze, the Chairman of the Government of Ajara Autonomous Republic, was elected as the Vice-President of CPMR in Neighborhood Policy.

Within CPMR there are six Geographical Commissions: The Atlantic Arc, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Intermediterranean, the Balkan and Black Sea and the Islands.

Official web page: www.cpmr.org

Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE) – since 2012

Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE) was established in 2004 in Salzburg  as an economic and scientific institution. Currently, more than 130 member regions, municipalities, cities and towns as well as enterprises from 23 European countries comprise IRE network.

Ajara Autonomous Republic joined IRE in 2012. In frames of the existing cooperation, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University became a member of the Institute of European Regions in 2023.

The goal of the Institute of the Regions of Europe is to establish a network of cooperation between regions and municipalities and to support their interests within the public and economic activities.  

IRE offers all stakeholders various conferences and symposiums on future development strategies of European regions and cities, political and economic challenges. The institute also organizes congresses in such areas as: energy, environment protection, transport, regionalism and globalization, cyber security, tourism, health care, youth and others.

Official web page: http://www.institut-ire.eu/de/

Assembly of European Regions (AER) – since 1997

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) was established in 1985 with the aim of enhancing the voice and the position of Europe’s regions. The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe, gathering regions from 35 countries – from Norway to Turkey and from Georgia to Portugal.

In 1997 Ajara Autonomous Republic became a full member of the Assembly European Regions. After joining the organization, the region has benefited from several AER programs, including „Youth Regional Network“ and the youth exchange program "EURODYSSEY" (Since 2006, up to 150 young people increased their professional qualifications).

In the scope of cooperation with the Assembly of European Regions, the Government of Ajara Autonomous Republic has hosted AER "Black Sea Summit" three times (2011/2016/2024) and in June 2024, Batumi became the first-time host of the AER General Assembly.

On June 27-30, 2023, at the General Assembly of the Assembly of European Regions held in Barcelona, Mr. Davit Batsikadze, the Chairman of the Committee on Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Supreme Council of Ajara Autonomous Republic, was elected as the vice-president of AER.

AER mission and objectives

·    Ensuring regional policy, economy, social development;

·     Promoting regional interest in Europe and abroad;

·     Supporting the inter-regional cooperation, etc.

AER Programs

·    Ensuring regional policy, economy, social development;

·    Promoting regional interest in Europe and abroad;

·    Supporting the inter-regional cooperation, etc.

Official web page: https://aer.eu/