EU candidate status, then “full membership” gov’t priority - defence minister

In an interview with the Georgian public broadcaster, Burchuladze noted EU membership created the prospect of Georgia becoming a member state of a “collective security”. Photo: MOD of Georgia

Agenda.ge, 26 Oct 2022 - 11:57, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze on Tuesday said receiving the European Union membership candidate status before achieving a “full membership” of the bloc was the “top priority” of the Georgian government.

In an interview with the Georgian public broadcaster, Burchuladze noted EU membership created the prospect of Georgia becoming a member state of a “collective security”.

“No one would have thought that the Baltic states would become NATO members so easily, without paying any extra price, so to speak”, he said.

I am sure that we will have the opportunity to do so and receive the [EU membership] candidate status, become a full member of the European Union and then a member state of the collective security”, Burchuladze told the channel.

The minister highlighted the role of the bloc’s collective security in creating “security, guarantees and conditions” for Georgian citizens, adding “we will act with measured steps and reach the final goal” in the process.