EU Commissioner: EU conditions implementation “only way” for Georgia to move forward on European path
The EU official also stressed the 12 priorities set out by the European Commission last year were key, as they formed the most important tasks for the country in the process. Photo: Reuters
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Oliver Varhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on Tuesday said the implementation of the bloc’s conditions for granting Georgia the membership candidate status was the only way for the country to move forward on its European path.
In his remarks, Varhelyi noted European partners wanted Georgia to succeed in its reforms for the European integration.
The EU official also stressed the 12 priorities set out by the European Commission last year were key, as they formed the most important tasks for the country in the process.
Varhelyi pointed out Georgia had to meet the conditions and work on the reforms, adding “this is the only way for the country to move forward on the European path it has chosen”.
He also added the implementation of the reforms necessary for receiving the EU membership candidate status could “only” be done by the Georgian Government and the country’s Parliament.
Oliver Varhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Policy, on Thursday welcomed the decision of the ruling Georgian Dream party to withdraw the controversial bill on transparency of foreign influence.
Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, on Tuesday reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to Georgia’s European integration path after his meeting with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili in Brussels on Monday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday hosted visiting representatives of the European Union External Action Service and the European Commission at an official dinner in Tbilisi.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Sunday highlighted the status of Georgia’s European course being enshrined in the constitution, noting it was “not subject to any revision”.
Givi Mikanadze, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the Georgian Parliament was on course to complete implementing the priorities set out by the European Commission last year for granting the country a European Union membership candidate status by the end of its spring session.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday responded to calls by a part of the domestic opposition and some MEPs for granting the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili release or postponement of the rest of his sentence on medical grounds by saying the country’s European future “cannot be conditioned on Saakashvili’s stomach”.
Aleko Elisashvili, an MP from the Citizens opposition party, on Wednesday called on the United National Movement party and other opposition groups to join the ongoing work at the Parliament for fulfilling the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status later this year.