Georgian PM, European Council President highlighted importance of Tbilisi’s EU integration amid geopolitical challenges - FM
Georgian FM on Wednesday said the mood in the EU on the country’s European integration was “positive”. Photo: Ilia Darchiashvili’s twitter
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The face-to-face meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Charles Michel, the European Council President, on Wednesday in Brussels highlighted the importance of Georgia’s European integration, Ilia Darchiashvili, the Georgian Foreign Minister, said in comments on the discussion.
Darchiashvili noted the leaders had also discussed the path Georgia was taking amid the current “complicated geopolitical circumstances” sparked by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
At an official dinner, the PM briefed the European Union official on his Government's efforts to meet the 12-point conditions outlined by the bloc last June for granting its membership candidate status to Georgia, as well as other reforms promoting democracy in his country, the FM added.
Delighted to meet w/@eucopresident. Outlined that ????????'s ???????? quest is firm as ever & we hope that the European Council will make another historic decision this year granting ???????? candidate status to ????????. Want to thank President Michel for his personal support to ????????’s ???????? future. pic.twitter.com/gt71LJEn9s
— Irakli Garibashvili (@GharibashviliGe) June 14, 2023
The mood [in the EU] is very positive. Our European partners, of course, see the progress Georgia is making, and the efforts and determination of our Government to, first of all, obtain the bloc’s candidate status [later this year], and [then] pursue an active reform agenda to ensure the country’s ultimate EU membership”, Darchiashvili said.
The Minister also claimed Michel was “motivated” to see Georgia’s advancement on its EU integration path, adding Garibashvili had extended his gratitude to the European official for his “personal efforts” for the country’s “European future”.
Also pointing to the PM’s meeting with his Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo earlier on Wednesday, Darchiashvili said the latter was a “firm supporter” for Georgia’s EU integration.
Welcome back to Brussels, PM @GharibashviliGe.
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) June 14, 2023
With the historic European perspective, you have the opportunity to chart a new trajectory for Georgia for generations.
Systemic reforms, inclusiveness and transparency are now needed more than ever.
For the people of Georgia ????????. pic.twitter.com/xsolgn51fP
He said the PM would further discuss his country’s EU integration prospects with Oliver Varhelyi, the EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, later today, before delivering a speech at an evening highlighting the selection of Georgia as the country in focus of Europalia - a biennial multidisciplinary arts festival highlighting artistic and cultural facets of select countries in its editions.
This year’s edition of the festival will showcase Georgia through the country's tradition of polyphonic singing, remembrance of its traumatic historical events and the legacy of its early 20th century avant-garde art scene between October and January.
Darchiashvili called the selection a “very important event”, and described it as being “in line” with Tbilisi’s expectations for EU candidacy.