NEWS

German Chancellor backs EU enlargement to include Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia

Scholz underlined Germany's “commitment” to EU enlargement, stressing that the countries of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and eventually also Georgia should join the bloc. Photo: Reuters

Agenda.ge, 29 Aug 2022 - 14:41, Tbilisi,Georgia

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday called for an enlargement of the European Union to eventually include Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.

In a speech entitled Europe is Our Future, Scholz said “we must bring the clout of our united Europe much more strongly to bear [...] Europe is our future. And that future is in our hands”.

Scholz underlined Germany's “commitment” to EU enlargement, stressing that the countries of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and eventually also Georgia should join the bloc.

In this expanded Union, the differences between the member states will grow as far as political interests, economic clout and social security systems are concerned. [...] I have therefore proposed a gradual transition to majority voting in common foreign policy, but also in other areas, such as tax policy”, the German Chancellor noted.

Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Chair: Germany “one of most important” partners for Georgia in EU, NATO

19 Jul 2022

Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Georgian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, on Tuesday highlighted the importance of meeting the Vice President of the German Bundestag Katrin Göring-Eckardt by highlighting the role of Germany as "one of the most important" partners for Georgia in the European Union and NATO.

US Ambassador: addressing European Council conditions “priority” for Georgian people

15 Jul 2022

United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan on Friday called the 12-point conditions of the European Council “the ticket for Georgia getting its candidate status” and said their fulfilment was the “priority” for the Georgian people.

EU Ambassador: Union’s decision to open door to Georgia “truly historic” moment

14 Jul 2022

European Union Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell on Thursday said it was "very important for everyone in Georgia to realise” that the EU’s decision to “open the door” to Georgia with the European Council’s move to grant the country the European perspective was a “truly historic” moment.

Borrell: Georgia will be granted “automatic” EU candidate status when criteria are met

23 Jun 2022

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.

Parliament Speaker: Georgia’s “track record of Europeanisation” makes country “deserving candidate” for EU membership

30 Aug 2022

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said Georgia’s “track record of Europeanisation” made the country a “deserving candidate” for European Union membership.

Ruling party Secretary: opposition parties “trying their best to sabotage” implementation of EU conditions

30 Aug 2022

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said domestic opposition parties were “trying their best to sabotage” the process of the implementation of the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status.

Ruling party Secretary decries “paradox” of EU status for CIS member state in contrast to absence of candidacy for Georgia’s “advanced reforms and democracy”

30 Aug 2022

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said it was a “paradox” that a Commonwealth of Independent States member state enjoyed the European Union membership candidacy, while Georgia, which he said was “advanced in terms of reforms and democracy”, had yet to receive the status.

Parliament Committee Chair: Georgia at “new stage” in EU relations, important to make “full use” of opportunities

02 Sep 2022

Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s European Union Integration Committee, on Friday said Georgia was at a “new stage” in its relations with the European Union and called for making “full use” of “new opportunities” as part of the EU enlargement policy.