Portuguese PM: Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia are members of European family
The Portuguese PM noted the EU had to take the expansion process “very seriously” and not to “disappoint” the countries’ “expectations”. Photo: Government of Portugal official website
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Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, as well as the Western Balkans countries, are members of the European family, António Costa, the prime minister of Portugal said on Saturday at the international congress of the Party of European Socialists in Berlin, in which the Georgian delegation is participating.
Costa said all candidate countries were required to make efforts to reform their institutions and the European Union would need it with its institutions too. Under the current rules, the EU would not be able to accept new members and to be serious and achieve the result, “strong” European support would be required to receive the new members in the European family, where they are expected.
The Portuguese PM noted the EU had to take the expansion process “very seriously” and not to “disappoint” the countries’ “expectations”.
The ruling Georgian Dream party delegation, led by Kobakidze, has been participating in the international congress in Berlin, which features high-ranking European politicians marking the anniversary of the PES. In addition, a resolution was passed on Friday, supporting Georgia’s European perspective.
The European Parliament has reaffirmed its support for Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations in resolutions on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
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.
Ukrainians, Moldovans and Georgians deserve to live in “free, democratic and prosperous” countries that are “proud and committed members” of the European family, a resolution approved by the European Parliament said on Thursday.
Bilateral relations and close cooperation in the process of Georgia's European integration was discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and his Portuguese counterpart João Gomes Cravinho.
Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday said the resolution, adopted by the Party of European Socialists congress in Berlin, has been “another proof” that Georgia has been enjoying “great support” in Europe on its European Union integration path.
As Russia seeks to redraw the boundaries between freedom and autocracy, “we are the people of Europe”, our voice must resound throughout Europe, from the Mediterranean to the North Sea, from Lisbon to Tbilisi and beyond, the German chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday at the Party of European Socialists congress in Berlin, in which the Georgian delegation is participating.
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”.
Georgia’s Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday reviewed partnership and his Government's efforts to meet conditions for the European Union’s candidacy status with the Portuguese Parliament Speaker Augusto Santos Silva and Zacarias da Costa, the Executive Secretary of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries.