EU High Representative Borrell: Georgia “firmly anchored” on its European Union path
Borrell stressed Georgians citizens’ “continued aspirations” to secure their “rightful place” in the “EU family” had made another “leap forward” possible with the decision, pointing out “every step brings it closer to making it a reality”. Photo: Reuters
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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.
Borrell stressed Georgians citizens’ “continued aspirations” to secure their “rightful place” in the “EU family” had made another “leap forward” possible with the decision, pointing out “every step brings it closer to making it a reality”.
Georgians’ continued aspirations to secure their rightful place in the EU family has made another leap forward possible today. And every step brings it closer to making it reality.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) June 17, 2022
With today’s Opinion, #Georgia is firmly anchored on its EU path. pic.twitter.com/rmgv4LbLxd
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.
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.
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.
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.
Civic activists, citizens and representatives of various opposition parties have gathered outside the Parliament building in capital Tbilisi on Monday to show support for European integration of the country.
The United States supports the further integration of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia with their European neighbours, Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said in a briefing on Tuesday.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said he was “convinced” the country would receive the European Union membership candidate status “in the near future”.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the decision of the European Commission to only grant the country the European Union membership candidate status if it met a number of conditions was “not an expert decision but a political one”.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday hailed the “historic” decision of the European Commission to recommend the European Council to grant Georgia a European perspective, in an address to the Georgian Parliament.