German CDU party: opening EU path to Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia “in Germany’s interest”
Krichbaum also spoke of the expectations from aspiring member states, noting the requirements for them to adhere to EU decisions and principles. Photo: Reuters
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Gunther Krichbaum, an MP from the Christian Democratic Union in the Bundestag, on Monday said it was “in Germany’s interest” to “open a path” to the European Union for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
Speaking on behalf of his party, he also called on the German Government to work within the framework of the EU accession process to ensure “new opportunities” for participation in joint programmes - such as those in the area of common foreign, security and defence policy - were “opened up” for the candidate countries before their full membership.
Since the process leading to [EU] membership is often long, we call for the creation of a new model that enables candidates to be closely linked to the European Union even before full membership”, the German MP explained.
Krichbaum also spoke of the expectations from aspiring member states, noting the requirements for them to adhere to EU decisions and principles.
The candidate countries must continue to be consistently asked to meet the criteria for democracy, human rights and the rule of law, as well as to step up the fight against corruption. They would also have to immediately implement the EU decisions on the common foreign and security policy”, Krichbaum said.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Georgian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, on Monday said granting Georgia the European Union membership candidate status would be a “good motivation” to pursue “necessary reforms”.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s European Union Integration Committee, on Monday said the upcoming two weeks would be “very important” for the European Commission’s evaluation of Georgia’s EU membership bid.
Edgars Rinkevics, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, on Sunday said his country supported granting Georgia a Membership Action Plan for joining NATO.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Saturday said he remained “optimistic” that a “sensible decision” would be made by the European Commission on the country’s European Union membership bid, which he said would be in the “best interest of both sides”.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the country would not deviate from the path of European integration regardless of the decision of the European Commission on Georgia’s European Union membership candidate bid.
The importance of deepening cooperation between Georgia and Norway in various areas was discussed on Monday in a meeting between the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili and the King of Norway Harald V.
Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger on Tuesday urged German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to support Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova as European Union membership candidates, while also calling on the German leader to see the horrors of the war in Ukraine with his “own eyes”.
Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday expressed his hope Denmark would support Georgia’s European aspirations and granting the country the European Union membership candidate status.
The Senate of Ireland on Tuesday adopted a resolution calling on the European Union and its institutions to grant Georgia the membership candidate status.