German FM: Georgian Gov’t, civil society’s “joint work” in implementing EU candidacy conditions “necessary”

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, on Friday said the Georgian Government and the civil society could not become members of the European Union independently of one another, in comments highlighting the necessity of their joint work on fulfilling the bloc’s conditions for granting the country its membership candidate status. 

The top German diplomat noted “significant progress” in the implementation of the 12 recommendations set out by the European Commission last year for granting Georgia the status.

There are 12 priorities to receive the candidate status. This is the most important task for all of us. Naturally, it is necessary to work together. In the accession process, it is necessary to uphold the rule of law, to implement democratic standards”, Baerbock said. 

She also added now the task was to overcome polarisation in the domestic Georgian politics, restore trust and implement reforms “necessary” for Georgia’s membership in the EU.

The Georgian Government cannot become a member of the European Union without the civil society - and vice versa, the civil society cannot become a member of the European Union without the Georgian Government. It is possible only together. Therefore, we want to contribute to this issue [of integration], to strengthen it”, she noted.