Georgia's place is in European Union - FM
Darchiashvili noted the Government’s application to join the EU was a “manifestation of the united efforts” of citizens and the state, and represented a “historical and political choice”. Photo: 1tv.ge
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Georgia's future is European and the country’s “place is in the European Union,” Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Ilia Darchiashvili said on Friday at a plenary meeting of the Georgian Parliament.
Darchiashvili noted the Government’s application to join the EU was a “manifestation of the united efforts” of citizens and the state, and represented a “historical and political choice”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia is actively working with the [EU] member states to obtain the status of a candidate country. In particular, I held meetings and telephone calls with almost all the foreign ministers of the European Union member states,” Darchiashvili explained.
Georgian embassies have been instructed to work actively with EU institutions, legislative and executive bodies of member states, research centres and other public opinion organisations to form positions in support of a candidate status for Georgia,” the top Georgian Diplomat also told MPs.
In his comments at the legislative body, Darchiashvili reiterated Georgia's European choice had “no alternative”.
Georgia's European choice has no alternative and will be an achievement of the entire country. Georgia's future is European and Georgia's place is in the European Union,” he said in conclusion to comments made at the Parliament.
The European Council on Friday invited the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, to submit its opinions on the EU membership applications of the Republic of Moldova and Georgia.
Carl Hartzell, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday said he expected the European Commission to present its opinion on granting the EU membership candidate status to the Associated Trio countries of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova in the next “two or three weeks”.
The European Union is “working hard” to respond to the membership bids by the Associated Trio countries of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said on Monday before a meeting EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili handed over the second completed part of Georgia's European Union membership questionnaire, filled out by the country ahead of schedule, to Carl Hartzell, the Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia, on Tuesday.
Georgia meets the “necessary parameters” and is ready to receive the status of an European Union candidate country, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili said on Friday at a plenary meeting of the Georgian Parliament.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili will visit Brussels on Wednesday to hold meetings at the European Commission and European Parliament, the foreign office said on Tuesday.
Georgian foreign minister Ilia Darchiashvili will hold meetings in Moldova to discuss bilateral cooperation and the European integration agenda of the two countries on Thursday, the foreign ministry said.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Enrique Mora, the Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service, on Wednesday discussed the country’s European Union integration prospects and security challenges amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Georgia’s foreign office said.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Christian Danielsson, the Swedish State Secretary for European Union Affairs, reviewed Georgia’s fulfilment of the 12-point conditions outlined by the bloc last year for granting it the membership candidate status.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili will on Tuesday have “important meetings” with officials at the European Commission ahead of the body’s reports on the country’s European Union membership candidate status, Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, Georgia’s representative to the bloc, has told the media.
The agenda of Georgia’s European integration, as well as the implemented and planned reforms by the country on this path, was discussed on Tuesday by Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs.