PM calls “historic” decision of European Commission to grant Georgia European perspective
In his remarks Garibashvili also reminded the public about the “heroic soldiers” of the country who “sacrificed” themselves for the "Euro-Atlantic idea", the fight against international terrorism, and their country's integration into NATO, noting Georgia had sent a "record number" of troops to peacekeeping missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and the Central African Republic. Photo: Government's Administration.
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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.
The head of the Government highlighted the achievements of the country over the past year, including the Commission's recommendation, pointing out the expectation had been that Georgia would receive the European Union membership candidate status - which was granted to Ukraine and Moldova - saying "it is clear that we have seen a different approach [from the Commission]".
The Prime Minister noted Ukraine and Moldova had been given the status as an "incentive mechanism and motivator" along with subsequent conditions, while in the case of Georgia "the opposite approach" had been used.
The Government head also said Georgia was an “unconditional leader” in "many terms of development" not only among the Associated Trio countries, but "many active European Union states and NATO members".
The PM noted that it had been “directly, publicly” stated that Ukraine had been granted the EU membership candidate status because of the war in the country. “I want to explain to our citizens: the war in Ukraine proved to be a decisive motivator for giving them status [candidate status for EU membership]", he said.
He also emphasised the conditions outlined by the European Commission towards all three Associated Trio states, reminding members of the Georgian political opposition that one of the main recommendations of the Commission for the country was to end polarisation in the domestic political sphere.
In his remarks Garibashvili also reminded the public about the “heroic soldiers” of the country who “sacrificed” themselves for the "Euro-Atlantic idea", the fight against international terrorism, and their country's integration into NATO, noting Georgia had sent a "record number" of troops to peacekeeping missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and the Central African Republic.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday said the ruling Georgian Dream party had inherited a “heavy legacy" from the United National Movement, denouncing the former Government as an "established dictatorship and authoritarian regime with no sign of democracy".
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”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday said if the European Commission had adopted a “merit-based approach” in its decision on Georgia’s membership bid, the country would have been “the first” to receive the candidate status for European Union membership.
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.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday highlighted the Government’s support for Ukraine "from the very first days" of its defence from the Russian invasion, stressing the humanitarian aid sent to the war-torn country and the political support for Ukraine in international formats.
The Georgian Government is aiming to achieve the country being listed in the top five of all major global rankings in the coming years, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili told the Parliament on Wednesday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday lamented that the European Commission had “not used a merit-based approach” when making its decision on the country’s European Union membership candidate status.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday told the country's Parliament he hoped the "historic" European perspective, granted by the European Commission to Georgia, would be approved by the European Council and EU member states.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday highlighted the “unshakable and firm” path undertaken by the Government for Euro-Atlantic integration of the country, with a particular focus on the upcoming NATO Summit.
The annual report on the Government's work presented on Wednesday by the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in the Parliament.
Closing Speech of the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili presented on Wednesday in the Parliament.
Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, on Thursday said the body had granted the European Union membership candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, and was ready to grant the same status to Georgia once the outstanding priorities outlined by the European Commission were addressed by the Georgian Government.
The European Council on Monday published Conclusions on European Union priorities for cooperation with the Council of Europe 2023-2024, with the document noting the future of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine and their citizens "lies within the EU”.