EU High Representative Borrell: Georgia “very important country”
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, pointed to Georgia’s “specific security challenges” and the occupation of 20 percent of its territories by Russia. Photo: EU press office
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Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Monday described Georgia as a “very important country” ahead of a meeting of the bloc’s Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg later today.
In his media comments, the EU official pointed to Georgia’s “specific security challenges” and the occupation of 20 percent of its territories by Russia, on the backdrop of Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
He also said the Council had been scheduled to discuss matters related to Georgia and its security, as well as the country’s European integration prospects ahead of the EU’s forthcoming decision on whether to grant the country its membership candidate status by the end of this year.
In the meeting, foreign ministers of EU member states will discuss the ongoing violence in Sudan and Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine, before meeting their Georgian and Ukrainian counterparts.
Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Thursday said Georgia would be “automatically” granted the EU membership candidate status once the reform agenda criteria outlined by the European Commission are addressed.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Wednesday said providing support for Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and countries in the South Caucasus was “more important than ever,” vowing the EU would continue strengthening ties with the partnering states.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said on Wednesday the European Union would consider the intended referendum in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on joining Russia “illegal” and not recognise it.
Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, reaffirmed the Union’s “unwavering commitment'' to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity during the meeting with Ilia Darchiashvili, the newly-appointed Georgian Foreign Minister, on Wednesday in Strasbourg.
The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council on Monday confirmed Georgia had made “significant progress” in “many key reforms” carried out in the country’s efforts for integration into the bloc, and highlighted the roles of rule of law, human rights, media, civil society and independent state institutions as “important elements” for each country aspiring to join the bloc.
The process of Georgia's accession to the European Union was discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Charles Michel, the President of the European Council.