Ruling party MP: “extremely important” for EU that Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova are “under its umbrella”

It is “extremely important” for the European Union that Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova are “under its umbrella”, Gia Volski, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and Vice Parliament Speaker, said on Wednesday.

In his comments, Volski highlighted the aspirations of the three states to join the EU despite the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and the fact that neither Moldova nor Georgia have fully fulfilled their prior obligations for applying for membership. The Georgian politician said the EU should have a “positive attitude” toward the prospect of integration of the three countries.

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European integration is a topic of “special importance” for Georgia and Moldova, and would act as an “insurance” from potential future aggression against them, Volski also said. The comments were made in response to “a lot of speculation” on Ukraine requesting a separate discussion of its EU membership.

The GD MP also said a separate request from Ukraine would not mean disrespect for its partner states with aspirations of EU membership, pointing to the circumstance of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resulting “whirlpool of blood in the country”. 

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Volski said he believed Ukraine's fears that Georgia and Moldova’s applications for EU member candidate status may have a “negative impact on the speed of consideration” of its own membership bid were unfounded.