Parliament Vice Speaker: Gov’t will ensure involvement of “all institutions” in EU membership questionnaire

The Georgian Government will ensure the European Union membership application questionnaire, handed to them by European authorities, is completed with a “highest involvement” of all institutions, Parliament Vice Speaker Archil Talakvadze said on Thursday.

Talakvadze said the Government would ensure not only the primary responsible agencies but also other sections of the public would be able to participate in the filling out of the form that represents the current phase in Georgia’s EU membership bid.

On behalf of the entire society, this [questionnaire] should [generally] be completed by the people who have the responsibility and who are [known] today [to be] the Government. However, we will nevertheless ensure the highest involvement of all the institutions and all the people who are responsible and have information about this questionnaire,” the Parliament official said.

Oliver Varhelyi, the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, handed over the European Union membership questionnaire to the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Monday.

The questionnaire contains 369 questions, significantly less than ones received by other EU partners. Previously, forms including about 2,000-5,000 questions were received by countries aspiring to join the Union.

After the Georgian authorities respond to the questionnaire, the European Commission will prepare its report and forward it to the European Council. Georgia has 1.5 months to complete the questionnaire.