Parliament EU Integration Committee Chair highlights adoption of declaration supporting bloc’s expansion at COSAC

The Georgian delegation, led by Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday, participated in the plenary session of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs and highlighted the adoption of a declaration supporting the expansion of the European Union in terms of Ukraine, the Western Balkans, Moldova and Georgia.

The declaration, adopted at the plenary session in Sweden’s capital Stockholm, confirms that the stability in Europe's neighbouring countries is a “guarantee” of the region’s security, the EU Integration Committee of Georgian Parliament said.

During the discussion on Ukraine, Botchorishvili reaffirmed Georgia’s “firm support” for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, noting the war in Ukraine was a “continuation” of Russia’s “aggressive policy” in the Eastern European region.

She emphasised that Georgia had “repeatedly” experienced Russian aggression, which resulted in the ongoing occupation of the country’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions, as well as having internally displaced persons in Georgia.

Amid the existing geopolitical situation, threats are increased and the risk of a possible military escalation is high, while we are not yet protected by NATO's “security umbrella” and do not enjoy the EU’s economic solidarity”, the Committee Chair said.

Botchorishvili stressed the Georgian Government was ensuring the country’s “full compliance” with EU sanctions against Russia, imposed for its invasion of Ukraine, noting "Georgia is in close coordination with the relevant institutions of the EU and other states that are controlling the enforcement of the sanctions.

The Georgian delegation participated in the COSAC plenary session by special invitation of the EU Presidency country Sweden and the Presidential Trio - the Czech Republic, Sweden and Spain.