Parliament Speaker: no time for “critical look” at Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova ahead of “political decision” on EU membership
The ruling party member said when Georgian Dream had announced its intention to apply for membership in 2024 in the run-up to the 2020 parliamentary elections in Georgia, “other politicians” in the country had looked at the move “with irony and scepticism” but had recently transformed into presenting themselves as “main leaders” in the integration process. Photo: Parliament press office.
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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.
Papuashvili said the EU itself had “opened up the possibility and accelerated the process” of granting membership candidate status to the Associated Trio countries, “signalling” it was ready for a political decision on the matter.
The official also highlighted the Union’s request for the three states to fill out their membership questionnaire forms, pointing to deadlines set “not for a year but over a month”.
The Parliament Speaker noted it was under the ruling Georgian Dream party that “progress” in the country had “become possible” since its signing of the Association Agreement with the EU in 2014.
Papuashvili also highlighted the “right reforms” had led to Georgia being granted visa-free travel with Schengen Area countries, and was now waiting for the confirmation of the candidate status for EU membership.
The ruling party member said when Georgian Dream had announced its intention to apply for membership in 2024 in the run-up to the 2020 parliamentary elections in Georgia, “other politicians” in the country had looked at the move “with irony and scepticism” but had recently transformed into presenting themselves as “main leaders” in the integration process.
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.
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.
The Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday said that by deepening ties with the European Union and regional partner states Georgia had a “potential” to strengthen its security and "provide peace and stability" in the Black Sea region and beyond.
Georgia has “strongly supported" Ukraine in political, diplomatic and humanitarian dimensions since the beginning of the military aggression of Russia on the country, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said in a report on the Government's activities, submitted to the Georgian Parliament on Wednesday.
In the “long process” of European integration, Georgia has to have “strong national unity,” and to “uphold” European values of democracy, human rights, equality and the rule of law, Swedish Ambassador Ulrik Tidestrom said on Friday.
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”.
If the European Union makes a decision on Georgia’s membership bid based on “facts and merits”, the country “truly” deserves the candidate status, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili said on Wednesday in an interview with Imedi TV.