German chancellor’s statement on expanding Europe from Lisbon to Tbilisi “particularly” important - ruling party head

German chancellor Olaf Scholz’s statement that Europe should expand from Lisbon to Tbilisi is “particularly pleasant and important” to Georgia, as Germany has a special role in making relevant decisions in the direction of European integration, Irakli Kobakhidze, the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party told reporters on Saturday.

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Kobakhidze, who led the Georgian delegation at the Party of European Socialists congress in Berlin, said the congress had been “very interesting”, and there had been “very positive” messages about Georgia, voiced by “a number of political leaders”, adding such political support was “important” for Georgia, creating “optimism” that the country would soon receive the EU candidate status and become a member state.

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Maka Botchorishvili, the chair of the Georgian parliament's EU integration committee also made comments on Scholz’s statement and said his “important” message has “determined” the future of the EU, and “today, when the European political forces are discussing the future of Europe, the future of Europe means the future of Georgia too”, she added. 

The committee chair also stressed that within the framework of the Berlin congress, “quite strong” messages had been made regarding the expansion of the EU and, “specifically”, in relation to Georgia.