Gov’t “ready to do everything” to “regain” Georgia’s place among European nations, join EU - PM

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday expressed his Government’s readiness to “do everything” to fulfil the “dream of many generations” and “regain” the country’s place among European nations.

In his comments for this year’s Europalia biennial multidisciplinary arts festival, which is showcasing Georgia this year in Brussels, Garibashvili said “all efforts” of his Governments were being aimed at joining the European Union.

He also highlighted his Government’s “historic” accomplishments for European integration over the past decade, including the signing of the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area deal with the EU in 2014, agreeing visa-free travel with the bloc and “becoming one of the leaders” among the countries aspiring to join it.

Last year the EU granted Georgia its membership perspective [European perspective] which represents the biggest foreign policy achievement of Georgia’s modern history. Since this landmark decision, we have been sparing no effort to obtain the EU candidate status by the end of this year and open a completely new chapter in Georgia's Western integration”, the PM said.

The Head of the Government vowed to implement “all” priorities outlined by the EU for granting the country the status, stressing “[w]e have never deviated from the chosen path [of EU integration], and we will make sure that nothing stands on the way of Georgia's democratic, European and prosperous future”.

In comments for the festival that this year highlights Georgia’s artistic and cultural facets, he highlighted the “rich history of Georgians being at the epicentre of the battles between the great empires, on the separation of Europe and Asia, Eastern and Western civilisations”.

This has only strengthened our nation, shaped our identity and values, [and] our longing to join the EU is rooted in this unique historical experience and this is what has given us the confidence to continue on this path when few people thought we could make it", the PM added.

Garibashvili also emphasised the country’s “history, culture, values and recent achievements” had prepared it to “meet the challenges” on the way to the membership in the bloc, highlighting the adoption of its first constitution 105 years ago - “as soon as the country gained independence from Russia” - which he said reflected the “most progressive trends in Europe at that time”.

The young but short-lived First Democratic Republic of Georgia already already advocated such values as freedom, democracy and rule of law”, Garibashvili noted while recalling the Georgian scientist Mikheil Muskhelishvili, whom he described as being “ahead of his time and passionate about the idea of a united Europe, [and] predicted its formation”.

Garibashvili cited Muskhelishvili as saying “Georgia knows that it belongs to Europe. It is necessary that Georgia takes its rightful place in Europe and Western countries should welcome Georgia into their family”.