Opposition MP calls on UNM, others to join work on EU candidate status conditions

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.

Elisashvili’s comments followed the statement of UNM Chair Levan Khabeishvili, who earlier today said his party would give the Government time until April 9 to implement the conditions or face protest rallies.

The recommendations are to be implemented in the Parliament. Let the UNM and others work together. That is what we were told [to do by European bodies]. [I call for this] Not because I enjoy working with [UNM], [but because] they [European partners] instructed us to do so and gave us such a recommendation”, Elisashvili said.

Givi Mikanadze, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the Parliament was on course to complete implementing the priorities set out by the European Commission last year by the end of its spring session, which closes on June 30.

Oliver Varhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on Tuesday said the implementation of the bloc’s conditions was the “only way” for the country to move forward on its European path.