“Unlikely” any country in Europe not to back Georgia’s EU candidacy in December - PM
The Georgian official also highlighted that the European Commission’s recommendation had stated that “the country should be granted EU membership status due to the results it achieved on its EU integration path”. Photo: Government administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said it was “unlikely” for any European Union member state not to back the European Commission’s decision to recommend the European Council to grant the country the membership candidate status in December.
In his comments with the media following a panel discussion at the Paris Peace Forum, Garibashvili noted his Government had “positive expectations” and would have “close coordination” with the European partners.
As for the expectation, you mentioned the expectation and the decision to be accepted on December 15 by 27 countries. We continue to work intensively, the [Georgian] Minister of Foreign Affairs visited almost all countries and I personally communicated with almost all European leaders”, Garibashvili said.
The Government head stressed that the European Commission’s decision had put an end to “groundless and unsupported speculations” that his Government had done nothing in this regard.
We directly heard claims that the country does not deserve the status, the country is not ready, etc. At this time, the countries that are far behind us are Ukraine, Moldova. Even today we are ten times ahead of both countries and everyone else. But I want to say that the fact is the fact and the truth should be told directly. Then they received the [status] and we didn't. No one remembered the [Georgian] citizens then, on the contrary, it was an attempt to sacrifice our citizens”, he continued.
The Georgian official also highlighted that the European Commission’s recommendation had stated that “the country should be granted EU membership status due to the results it achieved on its EU integration path”.
The PM added the ruling Georgian Dream party had done more for European integration than the previous governments over the last 30 years, and the country had received “everything” over the past 10 years, including the 2014 Association Agreement signed with the bloc, the free trade agreement and the visa-free travel to EU countries.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday highlighted France's support for the country’s European Union integration path.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday departed for participation in the Paris Peace Forum set to take place in the French capital between Friday and Saturday.
Four years ago on this day the regulation lifting visa requirements for Georgians to travel to the European Union entered into effect.
Today is one of the most important days for Georgia on its European Union (EU) integration path as the country’s Association Agreement (AA) with the EU is fully and officially coming into force.
Georgia’s European integration path is clear, which causes “radical opposition’s disappointment as their destabilisation plan has failed”, Gia Volski, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, said on Sunday.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Sunday announced a meeting of the European Union-Georgia Association Council “in the near future”, by saying the country would be represented at the discussion “in a new capacity” following the European Commission’s decision to recommend the European Council to grant the country the membership candidate status.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday claimed existence of five “myths” about the process and outcome of the country’s application for receiving the European Union membership candidate status.
A report by the European Commission on the European Union’s enlargement policy, published last week, was discussed on Monday in an online meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and the country’s ambassadors to the bloc’s member states.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the Government would send the European Union its “detailed” action plan for fulfilling the priorities set out by the European Commission in its recommendation for the country to be granted the EU membership candidate status.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday said Bulgaria supported the country’s European integration and believed the “mistake” of the European Commission not granting the country the European Union candidate status in 2022 “should be corrected”.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday said the country was moving closer to the European Union by implementing reforms for integration “despite many challenges”.
Andrius Kalindra, the Lithuanian Ambassador to Georgia, on Monday said he hoped European Union member states would reach a consensus on granting the country the membership candidate status this month.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday said Hungary was “firmly” supporting the country’s European integration and had voiced “important positions” around the subject.