This year’s Europe Day in Tbilisi is set to feel both festive and reflective. It’s not just a public celebration at Expo Georgia on 9 May, but also a moment to look back at 30 years of partnership between the European Union and Georgia. As per tradition, the event brings together music, discussion, exhibitions, and hands-on activities, while also telling a deeper story about how Georgia’s ties with Europe have grown over time.
Europe Day: Why 9 May matters
Across the European Union, 9 May is known as Europe Day. It marks the anniversary of the 1950 Schuman Declaration, a proposal that helped lay the foundations of today’s EU. In the aftermath of World War II, French foreign minister Robert Schuman called for a new kind of cooperation in Europe, famously saying:
“Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan.”
At its heart, the idea was simple but powerful: countries rebuilding after conflict could choose cooperation over competition, step by step. That same principle has shaped how the EU builds relationships beyond its borders, including with partners like Georgia.
30 years of EU–Georgia partnership
The 30-year milestone being marked this year goes back to the mid-1990s, when Georgia and the EU first established formal relations after Georgia gained independence.
Since then, the partnership has steadily deepened. Key moments include early cooperation agreements in the 1990s that opened diplomatic and economic ties, the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement coming into force in the late 1990s, a major step forward in 2014 with the Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), and Georgia being granted EU candidate status in 2023.
Over the years, the relationship has expanded well beyond politics and trade. It now includes education opportunities, support for reforms, cultural exchange, mobility programs, and investment in infrastructure and civil society.
EU representatives often describe the partnership as a shared effort to strengthen democratic institutions and create more opportunities for citizens, while bringing Georgia closer to the European community.
Expo Georgia program: Europe brought to life
This year’s Europe Day event will turn Expo Georgia Tbilisi into an interactive space where visitors can explore different sides of Europe and the EU–Georgia relationship.
The Team Europe exhibition (Pavilions 5–6): Each EU Member State will present its own story of contribution to science, culture, innovation, and global development. The idea is to show Europe not just as a political union, but as a collection of shared achievements built through cooperation.
The “30 Years of EU–Georgia Partnership” installation (Pavilion 11): This installation will take visitors through three decades of cooperation between the EU and Georgia. Through visuals and storytelling, it highlights major milestones and shows how agreements and policies have influenced everyday life: from education and travel to governance and reform.
The “My Europe, My Future” podcast studio (Pavilion 4): This space will host live conversations throughout the day. Instead of formal speeches, it focuses on open discussion, asking questions such as: What does Europe mean today for Georgians?, How do younger generations see the future of Europe?, and what values and experiences connect people across borders?
Journalists, young people, and public voices will take part in short recorded sessions, creating a more personal and conversational atmosphere.
The Opportunities pavilion (Pavilion 3): This area is designed to be practical and hands-on. Visitors can learn about opportunities such as Erasmus+ education and exchange programs, career and training pathways supported by the EU, professional development initiatives, and the EU Prize for Journalism in Georgia, which supports and recognizes strong reporting.
The focus here is on showing how EU–Georgia cooperation translates into real opportunities for individuals, especially students and young professionals.
Open to everyone
The event takes place at Expo Georgia, Tsereteli Avenue 118 in Tbilisi, starting at 12:00. Entry is free, and the program runs throughout the day with exhibitions, discussions, workshops, and interactive activities for all ages.
A shared moment of reflection
Beyond the celebrations, this year’s Europe Day offers a chance to reflect on how far the EU–Georgia relationship has come. What began as formal diplomatic ties three decades ago has grown into a broad partnership touching education, mobility, culture, and reform. The event highlights not just where the relationship stands today, but also the shared questions about where it might go next.
By Team GT
