Ruling party MP: EU accession process no less important than membership itself
The process of Georgia’s European Union accession is “no less important” than membership in the Union, Irakli Kadagishvili, the Chairman of the Rules and Procedural Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, told reporters on Tuesday. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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The process of Georgia’s European Union accession is “no less important” than membership in the Union, Irakli Kadagishvili, the Chairman of the Rules and Procedural Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, told reporters on Tuesday.
Kadagishvili was commenting on the country’s formal bid to join the EU, and stressed “[o]ne can not become a member of the EU if certain standards are not met”. The MP told local media successful membership would not be achieved in a short period of time, but it would be “very interesting”.
We will have to adapt many areas to the high standards of the EU. There will be substantive discussions on all reforms. This process will be aimed at developing the country, as these reforms should bring the country closer to the EU standards. Of course, there will be remarks and assessments. This is a very lively process, and we will try to be successful, the ruling party MP said.
Georgia's Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani also said on Monday gaining European Union membership would be a “long and time-consuming process”.
On Monday, ambassadors of EU member states agreed to invite the EU Commission to present the opinion on candidate status applications by Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.
Georgia officially applied for membership on March 3, with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili signing the country’s membership application.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) MP who chairs the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, told the Chairs of Foreign Relations Committees of the Parliaments of the European Union member states on Monday it was “crucial” the Union “demonstrates political will” and grants the country a candidate status.
Gaining European Union membership is a long and time-consuming process, Georgia's Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said on Monday following the EU Council’s decision to ask the European Commission to examine the applications for the membership submitted by Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani commented on Sunday on Georgia’s European Union membership prospects, stressing the country must do its best and use the opportunity to receive EU candidate status.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili welcomed the EU Council’s decision to ask the European Commission to examine applications for Union membership submitted by Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine on Twitter, stating “This new chapter in our relations motivates us to accelerate our reform agenda”.
There is practically no alternative for the European Union other than issuing a “clear and strong message” that it must open the door to Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, Ryszard Czarnecki, member of the European Conservative and Reform Group in the European Parliament, said on Tuesday.