Georgia’ EU mission head: “European perspective” one of “most significant” achievements for Georgia's foreign policy

Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, the head of the Georgian mission to the European Union, on Wednesday said the European Commission’s granting of “European perspective” to Georgia was “one of the most significant” achievements of the country’s foreign policy.

Makharoblishvili described the development as a major milestone for both foreign and domestic policies of the Government, stressing the European perspective was “closely related” to “almost everything” it was doing in order to strengthen democracy and improve welfare of citizens.

Granting Georgia the European perspective is one of the most significant achievements for Georgia's foreign policy and for Georgia's domestic policy as well, as it is firmly related to almost everything that Georgia does in order to strengthen its democracy and improve people's welfare. Therefore, we are very grateful for the Commission's recommendation”, the Georgian diplomat said.

He highlighted the country’s progress in the implementation of the commitments undertaken under the 2014 Association Agreement with the European Union, pointing out that a merit-based approach in the Commission’s recommendation on membership candidate status for Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine would have meant an expectation by the Georgian Government of all three states receiving the recommendation.

Enthusiasm [in Georgia] about the European idea is not just the quest for economic development, although this is also part of the motivation of course. However, the European Union we are willing to enter is not a Coal and Steel Community, it is not just a marketplace we want to trade, it is most of all a Union of ideas, of values and standards, which we are willing to live up to”, Makharoblishvili noted.

Georgia's quest for joining the European Union is deeply rooted in our historical legacy and in our identity, in the way we see ourselves and in the way we see our future”, he concluded in his comments.