Von der Leyen: “historic day” for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia with confirmation of “European prospectives”
She stressed the Commission's opinions on the candidacies of the countries marked an “inflection point”. Photo: Reuters
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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.
The Commission official said the three Associated Trio states shared a “strong” and “legitimate” aspiration of joining the EU, and the block was sending them a “clear” signal of support in their intentions.
Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia share the strong and legitimate aspiration of joining the European Union. Today, we are sending them a clear signal of support in their aspirations, even as they face challenging circumstances. And we do so standing firm on our European values and standards, setting out the path they need to follow in order to join the EU”, von der Leyen noted.
She stressed the Commission's opinions on the candidacies of the countries marked an “inflection point”.
Indeed, this is a historic day for the people of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. We are confirming that they belong, in due time, in the European Union. The next steps are now in the hands of our Member States”, she added.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Friday said Georgia was “firmly anchored” on its EU membership path following the recommendation of the European Commission on the country’s bid.
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Friday said he believed the country would see “even more important decisions on its European path in the near future”, following the European Commission recommendation on Georgia’s European Union membership bid.
Georgian civic initiative group Take a Step Towards Europe on Friday responded to the European Commission's recommendations on granting European Union membership candidacy to Georgia by calling on the Government to start implementing “immediate” reforms for obtaining the status.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday said the European Commission had formally confirmed “for the first time” that the prospect of Georgia's accession to the European Union was an “irreversible reality” and that the country would “definitely” become a member of the EU.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday hailed the “historic decision” by the European Commission to grant the country “European prospective” in the process of its European Union membership application.