Civic initiative group calls on Gov’t to start “immediate” reforms for EU candidate status
The statement by the group said the list of items issued by the European Commission to outline requirements for Georgia to obtain candidate status meant there was “still a chance” for the Government to “take swift steps to rectify the situation” and send a “strong message” to the leaders of EU states before next week’s decision.Photo: BM.ge
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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.
Involving the civil sector and non-governmental organisations, the group has issued the call for the authorities to show readiness for action to ensure “concrete initiatives” are taken by June 24 - the date for the European Council to make its final decision on the Commission’s recommendations - and the “main obstacles” in the integration are “removed”.
The statement by the group said the list of items issued by the European Commission to outline requirements for Georgia to obtain candidate status meant there was “still a chance” for the Government to “take swift steps to rectify the situation” and send a “strong message” to the leaders of EU states before next week’s decision.
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.
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.
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.