European Commission president: EU has recognised Georgia's European perspective, up to candidates to “advance towards our Union”

The European Union has recognised Georgia's European perspective, and it is up to candidate countries to reform their economies and their institutions and “advance towards our Union”, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said on Wednesday.

In her speech at the EU ambassadors conference, von der Leyen stressed it was the bloc's “responsibility” to support candidate countries “in every possible way”.

The wind of change is once again blowing through Europe. [...] Of course, it is up to candidate countries to reform their economies and their institutions, and advance towards our Union. But it is our responsibility to support them in every possible way. This is Europe's moment. And it is up to us to seize this moment”, von der Leyen said.

On June 24, the European Council 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 would be addressed by the Georgian government.