MEP Kaljurand: Georgia's European perspective needs political consensus that I do not see

MEP Marina Kaljurand says that she does not see political consensus regarding the EU’s readiness to talk about Georgia’s European perspective or ‘open door’ policy. 

She also stated that each partner state decides how close it wants to be to Europe and emphasised that the Eastern Partnership Summit scheduled for December 15 in Brussels ‘may become a new chapter in cooperation.’

• GD head in Strasbourg: MEPs wish to see decline in Georgian political polarization

We may use different words and phrases, but the main thing is that Georgia wants to be in the EU and it's on this path. We stay here, support you, wait for you and cooperate with you,” Kaljurand said.

The Eastern Partnership (EaP) initiative was launched in 2009 and is intended to promote ‘political association and economic integration’ between the EU and six Eastern European and South Caucasus countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine.

• Georgian, Ukrainian, Moldovan PMs discuss ways to strengthen ties with EU

The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party members have visited Strasbourg for several days and held meetings with the MEPS and EU officials ahead of the meeting of the Associated Trio in Brussels on November 30-December 1, which aims to strengthen the EU's Eastern Partnership initiative and ensure joint efforts for European integration.

• FM Zalkaliani: invitation to Riga Summit is recognition of Georgia’s progress as aspirant country by NATO

Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova are the three associated partners of the EU which launched the format of the Associated Trio earlier this year.