Georgian NGOs call on gov’t to return to EU-mediated agreement as part of bid for EU membership

A group of Georgian non-governmental organisations has reacted to the news of the government’s application for European Union membership by calling on the ruling party to return to an EU-mediated agreement from last year as part of the bid to join the EU.

In their statement on Thursday, the NGOs welcomed the ruling Georgian Dream party’s announcement of the membership bid, adding the group of organisations hoped the submission would be sent on Thursday.

The NGOs called the news on the EU membership application “a really important step for Georgia on the great path [of] European integration”.

• GD head: Georgia to apply for EU membership immediately

However, the NGOs also called EU membership process “a long way of reforms, a long way of development” and called on the government to rejoin the agreement mediated by Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, between the ruling party and the opposition last year.

The ruling party left the April 2021-signed agreement in July, saying the deal had “completed its mission” while also accusing the signatory opposition parties of non-fulfilment of its clauses.  

In their reaction to the EU membership application, the non-governmental group also called for an establishment of a dedicated structure at the government to handle the process of the country’s accession.

Georgian Dream (GD) party chairman Irakli Kobakhidze announced the government’s move for applying for EU membership on Wednesday.