EU Ambassador highlights “personal opinion” that Georgia will receive candidate status

Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday said his personal opinion was that Georgia would receive the EU membership candidate status later this year.

In his remarks with the local media, Herczynski noted it was “important” for the country to use the time remaining until the end of the year to achieve “maximum” progress on the recommendations set out by the European Union for granting it the status.

The EU diplomat also stressed it was also “very important” that “good news” was coming from Georgia on the reforms and related political developments.

Herczynski also noted the bloc “welcomed and supported” communication of the Georgian authorities with capitals of EU member states, and “all visits” of high-ranking EU officials to Georgia on the backdrop of the integration process.

It is very important that this dialogue be as intensive as possible, so that the 27 member states make the right decision at the end of the year regarding Georgia's next steps on the path to EU membership”, he concluded.