Ruling party leader: recognition of Georgia's European perspective “undoubtedly a step forward”
Georgia was “moving steadily” on the path proclaimed by the Georgian Constitution, Mdinaradze claimed, adding the country’s European perspective was “inevitable”. Photo: Georgian Dream press office.
Tweet 
Share
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.
Speaking at a briefing following the Commission's recommendation on granting “European perspective” to Georgia, the official said the decision would become the “basis” for receiving the European Union membership candidate status “in the near future”.
Mdinaradze said Georgia “could have expected more” from the Commission on the matter, but claimed “priority was given to Ukraine and Moldova” in their own EU membership bids in the wake of the Russian invasion of the former.
He also told reporters Georgia was ahead of the two countries in its European integration process due to reforms implemented by the Government, while finding itself “in the least adverse place” if the three states were compared on “problems, challenges and war”.
Georgia was “moving steadily” on the path proclaimed by the Georgian Constitution, Mdinaradze claimed, adding the country’s European perspective was “inevitable”.
The recommendations for EU membership bids by Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova will be discussed at the next European Council meeting on June 23 and 24.
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.
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.
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.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday announced the departure of three MPs from both the party and the parliament following their disagreement over public relations strategy with the rest of the faction.