Parliament Speaker believes in “positive outcome” for Georgia’s EU bid “in case of merit-based approach”
Papuashvili underlined that “objective assessments” showed that Georgia was a leader among some EU membership candidate countries in terms of reform progress. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
Tweet 
Share
Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said if the opinion of the European Commission on the European Union candidacy of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia was “based on merit”, then Georgia deserved the membership candidate status.
During the meetings [with European partners] we emphasised two things: one, if the decision is based on merit, then Georgia deserves the candidacy, and if the decision is based on geopolitical considerations, then Georgia also deserves it”, the head of the Georgian legislative body said.
Papuashvili underlined that “objective assessments” showed that Georgia was a leader among some EU membership candidate countries in terms of reform progress.
So we think for both the case where [the European Commission] makes a decision based on merit, and for the case it is made on geopolitical feasibility, there should be a positive outcome”, he concluded.
The European Commission is expected to deliver its opinion on the EU candidacy of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia on Friday. The Council is then expected to make a final decision on each country on June 23-24.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday said the European Union membership candidate status must be granted “as soon as possible” to the Associated Trio countries of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
A number of German political parties, including the opposition CDU/CSU faction, have launched a motion supporting a “rapid granting” of European Union membership candidate status to the Associated Trio countries Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, German media reported on Tuesday.
The Senate of Ireland on Tuesday adopted a resolution calling on the European Union and its institutions to grant Georgia the membership candidate status.
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.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday said Georgia was ahead of Ukraine and Moldova, the fellow states with European Union membership bids, in “all parameters” of EU integration.
The European Commission on Friday recommended the European Council to grant Georgia “European prospective” before assessing how the country meets a number of conditions for receiving the European Union membership candidate status.
Georgia has been waiting for an official recognition of its European perspective for many years, and the Government is pleased that this perspective has been officially recognised by the European Commission, Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Friday.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, on Friday noted the “historic” event of European Union bodies granting the three countries “European perspectives” in their membership bids.
Recognition of Georgia's European perspective through the decision of the European Commission on Friday is “undoubtedly a step forward”, Mamuka Mdinaradze, the leader of the Georgian Dream ruling party, said on Friday.