Georgian PM: Granting EU candidate status will be “recognition of progress and achievements” of country

Granting Georgia the status of a European Union membership candidate would give the country “additional motivation” and represent a “recognition of progress” it has achieved, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Friday in a discussion held at the Global Security Forum in Bratislava.

Garibashvili said his Government had implemented reforms and strengthened democratic institutions, making Georgia “one of the best reformers” in a wider region in terms of transparency, accountability, media freedom, rule of law and judicial reforms. 

According to the World Bank, Georgia is number one in terms of budget transparency,” the PM noted in reference to a recent ranking by the international body.

Garibashvili also emphasised his Government understood it needed to “continue all reforms,” but added the candidate status would send a “message” to all three countries of the EU’s Associated Trio, as well as to Russia. 

The PM said his team understood granting of candidate status was “a working process,” adding the Government would be “motivated” if it received what he called a “wise decision” from the EU on the membership application. 

When Russia invaded Georgia in 2008, the world thought maybe the context was different. After 2008, no-one imposed sanctions on Russia. In 2014, the world was shocked [with Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict], and again, just recently, the entire world was surprised and shocked when Russia invaded Ukraine. The answer from the West must be adequate, relevant, and proportional,” the Government head pointed out. 

Garibashvili also said not granting EU member candidate status to Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia “will be a mistake” in the “difficult times” created by Russia’s invasion of Ukrainian territory.