“All conditions” for Georgia’s EU candidacy will be met by end of June - ruling party head
Irakli Kobakhidze said the country would receive the status in December in the case of a “merit-based decision”. Photo: Georgian Dream press office
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Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday claimed all 12 conditions outlined by the European Council last year for granting the European Union membership candidate status to Georgia would be fulfilled by the end of June.
In his press comments, Kobakhidze said the country would receive the status in December in the case of a “merit-based decision” being applied by the EU, reiterating the bloc’s move last year to grant Georgia a European perspective, instead of full candidacy, had been “unfair”.
Expectations are positive. However, it is a political decision and chances are 50/50”, Kobakhidze said.
Tbilisi officially applied for EU membership in March 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, along with Ukraine and Moldova.
The European Council in June granted Ukraine and Moldova its candidate status with conditions, while Georgia received a European perspective and a reform agenda to obtain the status later.
The Georgian Government’s original plans involved applying for the membership in 2024, before the launch of hostilities in Ukraine accelerated the process. The authorities called the granting of a European perspective a “historic decision” for the country, while also claiming Georgia’s democratic development merited full status as it placed the country ahead of Moldova and Ukraine.
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.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said a part of domestic opposition parties was “doing everything” to prevent the country from receiving the European Union membership candidate status by the end of this year and use the development for “sparking unrest” in the country.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has praised a “historic day” for Georgia with his signing of the country’s bid for European Union membership on Thursday, saying the move “continues the efforts of our ancestors, which was aimed at unification in a common European family.”
Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, on Thursday said the body had granted the European Union membership candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, and was ready to grant the same status to Georgia once the outstanding priorities outlined by the European Commission were addressed by the Georgian Government.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said Georgia would “definitely” become a full-fledged member of the “European family” while preserving its “culture and traditions [and] national identity” and further strengthening independence.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Sunday said the radical domestic opposition was sabotaging the implementation of the 12 priorities, outlined by the European Union last year for granting its membership candidate status to Georgia.
Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Thursday said Tbilisi had done “everything” to obtain the European Union membership candidate status and the country “deserved” it.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Saturday said Georgia would fulfil all 12 priorities set by the European Union for granting the country its membership candidate status, so that there would be “no reason left” for not granting Georgia the status in December.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday discussed bilateral ties, prospects for further strengthening of cooperation and his country’s aspirations to join the European Union with Sean O’Farrell, the Chairman of the Lower House of the Irish Parliament.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the party’s scheduled “important” meeting with domestic non-governmental organisations later in the day would discuss “all topics” related to the country’s European Union integration.