Georgia's accession to the European Union is a “civilisational choice” of the country’s citizens and is not simply a matter of the Government, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said at a World Economic Forum panel in Davos on Wednesday.
Speaking at the panel discussion Rethinking the EU's Partnership with its Neighbourhood, Garibashvili noted Georgia had been a “very reliable and loyal” partner to the Union “because Georgian people share the same values and principles” as the European member states of the EU.
“In 2014 we signed the Association Agreement with the European Union. This is the main document. This is the roadmap for our ultimate goal, which is full-fledged membership. Since then of course we have signed the free trade agreement; we have had some tangible results such as the visa-free travel, which is also very important to the Georgian citizens; and just recently, we submitted our application for European Union membership,” Garibashvili told the panel.
The PM also said “whatever brings” Georgia closer to the EU and to membership is “acceptable,” and emphasised the country “would do its maximum” to get closer to the Union and the “ultimate goal” of membership.
At the panel discussion, the Georgian Prime Minister was accompanied by Natalia Gavrilita, the Moldovan Prime Minister, Alar Karis, the President of Estonia and Alexander Schallenberg, the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria.