Spanish FM: Georgia’s European path must end in European family

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno on Monday said Georgia’s European path must end by the country joining “the European family”, in remarks over the Eastern Partnership foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.

Bueno noted it was “very clear” that there was a “place” for the countries of the European Union’s Easterm Partnership platform “in the European family”.

I had the opportunity to meet my Georgian counterpart a few weeks ago in Madrid. I conveyed the message that there is a European path that must be completed by joining the European family. This is the message I will convey during today's meeting”, Bueno said.

“In six months, Spain will preside over the EU Council. It is a very important time for these [Eastern Partnership] countries to engage in dialogue with all of us in order to prepare well for the next step. It is very clear that there is a place for them in the European family”, he concluded.

Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili will feature in the ministerial meeting on Monday, with the event bringing together European Union foreign ministers and their counterparts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.