Georgia’s EU integration, improving country’s perceptions in bloc a “common task” - EU Ambassador

Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday said the country’s progress to meet the 12-point conditions outlined by the bloc last year for granting Tbilisi its membership candidate status, and improving Georgia’s perceptions in EU institutions and its member states, were a “common task” for the country’s authorities and the bloc. 

In his press comments, the diplomat praised the Government's efforts to implement a “number of democratic reforms” over the years and for meeting the latest reform agenda, but added the bloc was expecting further progress and “other decisions” on the country’s European integration path.

• EU Ambassador highlights “intensive” dialogue between Georgian, EU officials

He stressed the bloc needed “positive and constructive news” to come from Georgia ahead of its forthcoming decision later this year on whether to grant the country its membership candidate status. He also pledged joint work with the domestic authorities to create a “positive atmosphere based on the fulfilment of the 12 priorities, as well as on the basis of the general perception of Georgia”. 

Highlighting the European Council’s decision to grant Georgia a European perspective and outline conditions for its candidate status, the Ambassador said “a lot of things have already been done” for meeting the required reforms.

Georgia officially  applied for EU membership in March 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February.