Parliament Speaker: Georgia will have “solid support” from France for EU candidate status
He noted the country’s integration into the bloc was “a two-way street”, emphasising that “just as Georgia needs to be a part of the European family, the EU also needs Georgia to be a part of its family”. Photo via Parliament of Georgia
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said he was confident the country would have “solid support” from France in taking political decisions regarding Georgia’s European Union candidacy.
Papuashvili noted Georgia’s European integration, amid the current security challenges in the Black Sea region, had been highlighted at all the meetings held within the framework of his visit to France, the local media said.
In this process [EU integration] Georgia has its share of responsibility and steps needed to be taken. [...] Georgia is the leader not only in the Associated Trio [countries], but also in comparison with other candidates in many aspects”, the Parliament Speaker stressed.
He noted the country’s integration into the bloc was “a two-way street”, emphasising that “just as Georgia needs to be a part of the European family, the EU also needs Georgia to be a part of its family”.
Georgia, as “one of the important parts” of the Middle Corridor connecting Europe and Asia, will contribute to ensuring peace, security and prosperity of the EU, Papuashvili added.
The Parliament official also emphasised France’s involvement in strengthening the positions of Georgia in the last 30 years, as well as representing the national interests of the country, including supporting non-recognition policy towards Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions. “We once again received confirmation that France’s support will continue”, he added.