Georgian President: European perspective granted by EU to Georgia “extremely important”
The President stressed a “working together” of domestic political parties meant plenary sessions in the Parliament or work in its committees, as well as participation in working groups presented by the Government and the majority of Parliament. Photo: President's Press Office,
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Georgia must understand that the European perspective granted to the country by the European Parliament and the European Council is “extremely important”, President Salome Zourabichvili said in a joint press conference with Members of the European Parliament on Wednesday.
Speaking at the press briefing in the Orbelian Palace in Tbilisi, Zourabichvili said the Council’s statement that Georgia would be granted EU membership candidate status at the end of the year if the country fulfilled the 12-point conditions outlined for it, as “perhaps even more important” than the former decision.
The President noted she expected the Georgian Government’s representatives would visit Brussels to “clarify some details” on how some parts of the conditions should be fulfilled with the European Commission.
Zourabichvili also said the work on the conditions should start in the Georgian Parliament, and added she had signed the statement on holding the summer session of the legislative body for the purpose.
She also said she believed it was “incomprehensible” to Members of the European Parliament that Georgia’s political spectrum did not start its work on the EU’s conditions “immediately”.
The President stressed a “working together” of domestic political parties meant plenary sessions in the Parliament or work in its committees, as well as participation in working groups presented by the Government and the majority of Parliament.
Zourabichvili emphasised the ruling Georgian Dream party, with its majority in the legislative body, had a “very big responsibility” that required a “constructive opposition” that would not “start opposing everything”.
The delegation of the European Parliament that met the President is on a two-day visit to the Georgian capital, where they will meet representatives of the executive and legislative authorities. Meetings are also planned with the domestic opposition, representatives of non-governmental organisations and the Georgian Public Defender.