Georgian FM: “everyone must bear responsibility” for country’s European integration

Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday said Georgia's European integration would be achieved not only through the efforts of the Government but also by the political opposition and non-governmental sector in the country “bearing their responsibility” for the outcome.

Darchiashvili made the comment in his overview of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s address at the European Political Community Summit in Chișinău this week.

He noted the PM had reviewed the challenges in the region from the point of view of security at the event, while also noting the EU integration was the “number one priority” for the Government, one for which “we will spare no effort”.

“We have chosen the European future of Georgia, and this is the path that we all have to take and everyone has to contribute to this process, because the European integration of Georgia will not be achieved only by the efforts of the Georgian Government”, he said.

“Here, each stakeholder - the opposition, the non-governmental sector - must bear their responsibility and together with us, make Georgia's European future irreversible”, the FM added.

Darchiashvili also said the Government’s anticipation on the outcome of the country’s application to receive the European Union membership candidate status was formed based on assessments it received from the bloc, and led to “positive” expectations.