MFA vows Gov’t will pursue “ambitious” reform agenda to ensure country’s EU integration
“We believe that this is a historic moment for Georgia and from now on the door to Europe is unambiguously open for our country”, the Ministry concluded. Photo: MFA of Georgia
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The Georgian Government will continue to pursue an “ambitious” reform agenda together with the European Union to ensure the country’s eventual integration into the bloc, the Georgian foreign office said on Friday following the decision of the European Council to recognise the country’s European perspective for membership.
The Ministry’s statement said the Government would work “actively” to implement the recommendations outlined by the European Commission in order to obtain the membership candidate status, and ensure the country regains its place in the “common European family as soon as possible”.
By granting the perspective of accession, the European Union recognised Georgia as a European country and acknowledged the progress made in Georgia-EU relations in recent years. [T]his result would have been unattainable for Georgia had it not been for the reforms and efforts made by the country in recent years”, the statement said.
The foreign office stressed the decision of the Council was of “particular importance” in view of the “challenges” that threatened the “Western value system and the security of Europe”, of which Georgia was an “integral part”.
We believe that this is a historic moment for Georgia and from now on the door to Europe is unambiguously open for our country”, the Ministry concluded.
The European Council on Thursday granted the membership candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, and said it would be ready to grant the same status to Georgia once the outstanding priorities outlined by the European Commission were addressed by the Georgian Government.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday highlighted a “historic” day as the European Council granted the country the “European perspective” to become a member of the European Union.
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.
Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, the head of the Georgian mission to the European Union, on Wednesday said the European Commission’s granting of “European perspective” to Georgia was “one of the most significant” achievements of the country’s foreign policy.
Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Thursday said Georgia would be “automatically” granted the EU membership candidate status once the reform agenda criteria outlined by the European Commission are addressed.
Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, on Friday congratulated Georgia with being granted the perspective of accession to the European Union.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday expressed the willingness of his Government for a “constructive” dialogue involving domestic political forces in a bid to end polarisation.
The Georgian Government is "mobilised to meet all conditions" set by the European Union for granting member candidate status to Georgia in a timely manner, in order to obtain the status on time, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said at a briefing at the Government Administration on Friday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said “de-oligarchisation” was “not really” a challenge in the country but vowed to have consultations with European Union bodies over the matter to “get more specifics and explanations”.
The European Union’s decision of not granting the membership candidate status to Georgia “contradicts the tasks of strengthening” the bloc, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Friday in a press briefing with his Georgian counterpart Ilia Darchiasvhili in Tbilisi.
Georgia has received “guaranteed promise” to become EU member
By having been granted the "European perspective" by European Union bodies, Georgia has received "a guaranteed promise" that it will "definitely become" a member of the EU, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili said on Friday.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Monday marked the 8th anniversary since the signing of Georgia’s Association Agreement with the European Union by saying that the country’s EU integration was “irreversible”.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s European Union Integration Committee, on Monday said the Government would pursue the path of reforms that would “advance the country” on the European integration path and bring it closer to the ultimate goal of becoming an EU member.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said it was “difficult to say" how long it would take for Georgia to receive the European Union membership candidate status, emphasising fulfilment of the conditions outlined by the EU for the outcome.
Georgian Ambassador to the United States David Zalkaliani on Tuesday received a copy of the European Council’s “historic” decision on granting the European perspective to Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova from Stavros Lambrinidis, the European Union Ambassador to the United States.
Ireland is in favour of European enlargement, including for aspirations of European Union membership of Georgia, which needs “help and support and solidarity”, Simon Coveney, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, said on Wednesday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday held a farewell meeting with Carl Hartzell, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, with the officials discussing the existing cooperation between Georgia and the bloc in various fields before the latter’s end of term in the country.