Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Chair hopes EU will make “correct decision” on Georgia’s membership bid
In a discussion held at the Global Security Forum in Bratislava, Samkharadze spoke about Georgia's application for membership, the Government’s reforms on the European integration path and the current geopolitical environment. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Georgian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, on Friday said the country had made “significant progress” on its European integration path and expressed hope the European Union would make the “correct decision” and grant it the EU member candidate status.
In a discussion held at the Global Security Forum in Bratislava, Samkharadze spoke about Georgia's application for membership, the Government’s reforms on the European integration path and the current geopolitical environment.
The current geopolitical situation and challenges call for a change and review of European security in general. Georgia has made significant progress over the last decade. So I have high hopes that the European Union will make the right, pragmatic decision and grant Georgia an EU candidate status,” the Parliament official said.
He stressed granting the candidate status would be an “important message” not only for the Georgian public but also for Moscow, “clearly” reminding the Kremlin that it could no longer continue its “aggressive and destructive actions” against Georgia.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Thursday said the country’s application for European Union membership was the result of the “tireless” and “unwavering” efforts of the Georgian people aimed at “regaining a place in the family” of European nations.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday attended the opening ceremony of the Global Security Forum in Bratislava, the Government Administration said.
The Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said the European Union should demonstrate a “long-term interest” in the Black Sea region by granting membership candidate status to Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s European Union Integration Committee, on Tuesday said Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova “deserved” to become members of the European Union.
This is not the time for the European Union to “look critically” at Georgia, Ukraine or Moldova when a “political decision” on the countries’ membership bids are to be taken, Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, said on Friday.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Sunday said “all the crimes committed” by the United National Movement opposition party during their time in power were “secondary” to the European People's Party.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said Georgia had “unquestionably” deserved the European Union membership candidate status, pointing out the country was “ahead” of Ukraine and Moldova in “all parameters” in terms of EU integration.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s European Union Integration Committee, on Tuesday discussed the country’s bid for EU membership with members of the Dutch Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee as part of her working visit to the Netherlands.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Georgian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, on Wednesday said granting the European Union member candidate status to the Associated Trio countries of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova was not a “technical or bureaucratic” question but a “very important geopolitical decision”.
Gia Volski, a ruling party MP and the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Friday said he was “confident” the European Council would analyse “in depth” the “reality created around Georgia” and grant the country the European Union membership candidate status.