EU commissioner discusses Georgia’s EU integration with president, parliament speaker, parliamentary opposition
Papuashvili told the media that Varhelyi had been “known to be” the supporter of Georgia’s progress towards integration with the EU and noted the country’s goal had been to fulfil all conditions and “wait for the evaluation of the progress”. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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The European Union commissioner for neighbourhood and enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, on Tuesday, discussed Georgia’s European perspective and the 12-point conditions set by the bloc for granting the country the membership candidate status at the meetings with Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili, parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili and representatives of various parliamentary parties.
During the meeting with Zourabichvili, the officials highlighted the importance of overcoming depolarisation in the country, with the EU commissioner expressing the readiness of the EU to “help” Georgia “in everything” that would contribute to the country’s integration in the bloc and reaffirming EU’s “unwavering support” of Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Photo: President's press office
The Georgian president and Varhelyi also discussed the war in Ukraine and the security environment created in the Black Sea region and stressed the region’s importance in connecting Europe and Asia, pointing out its “great potential” in developing infrastructural, energy and transport corridors connecting with Europe, the president's press office said.
After his meeting with the EU commissioner, the parliament speaker Papuashvili highlighted Varhelyi’s visit as “a significant visit at an important time” and said he had informed the commissioner about the ongoing implementation process of the conditions set by the EU and had briefed him on the plans and draft laws.
Georgia is finalising the implementation of the EU recommendations. Had a fruitful meeting with @OliverVarhelyi, EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement on this progress with all parliamentary political parties. ???????? remains ????????'s devoted ally in these challenging times. pic.twitter.com/7L15JV3Bw9
— Shalva Papuashvili ???????? (@shpapuashvili) November 15, 2022
Papuashvili told the media that Varhelyi had been “known to be” the supporter of Georgia’s progress towards integration with the EU and noted the country’s goal had been to fulfil all conditions and “wait for the evaluation of the progress”.
#Georgia #Tbilisi - ⏩ Discussions will focus on #EU support and priority reforms identified in the Commission’s Opinion on ???????? membership application to the ????????, and flagship projects under the Economic and Investment Plan. #EIP ➡️ press announcement: https://t.co/NPNIVhUAMp pic.twitter.com/YUQP4lfEVX
— Oliver Varhelyi (@OliverVarhelyi) November 15, 2022
The fact that Varhelyi met not only the Georgian Dream party or the government but also the parliamentary opposition has been a message that “democracy does not exist without opposition”, one of the leaders of the Lelo opposition party, Ana Natsvlishvili said after the meeting with the EU commissioner.
Levan Karumidze, the first deputy chairman of the EU integration committee also made comments after the meeting and thanked Varhelyi for his “very strong statements” in support of Georgia’s EU integration, stressing that “fair and merit based approach” has been “essential” for Georgia.
Thank you Comm'r! Very strong statements in support of ????????s #EU integration from @OliverVarhelyi during press point w/@GharibashviliGe. Fair&merit based approach is essential 4 #Georgia's European aspirations, esp. after some unfortunate messaging frm certain European politicians.
— Levan Karumidze (@KarumidzeL) November 15, 2022
Varhelyi started his official visit today, meeting Garibashvili in one-on-one and expanded formats.