Georgian PM, European Council President review cooperation, EU accession

Georgia's EU accession process and progress in fulfilling the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Charles Michel, the President of the European Council.

The officials noted the recognition of the country's European perspective last year as a “historic decision”, and emphasised the prospective granting of candidate status at the end of 2023 was of “critical importance” for the country, including for ending polarisation of the domestic political scene, the Government Administration said.

Hosted in Brussels, the meeting also focused on the security environment in the wider region and the difficult security and humanitarian situation in the Russian-occupied territories of Georgia, and highlighted the “important” role of the country in ensuring “peace and stability” in the South Caucasus.

Garibashvili stressed the importance of EU involvement in the region both in terms of promoting peace and security and for deepening transport, energy and infrastructural connections between Georgia and the bloc within the Black Sea region.

Garibashvili thanked Michel for his “personal efforts” in supporting Georgia's EU accession process and for supporting Georgia's European perspective.