Georgian FM, EU diplomat discuss European integration prospects, security challenges
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Enrique Mora, the Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service, met on Wednesday in Tbilisi. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office
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Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Enrique Mora, the Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service, on Wednesday discussed the country’s European Union integration prospects and security challenges amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Georgia’s foreign office said.
In a Tbilisi meeting held as part of the Georgia-EU strategic dialogue on security issues, the sides highlighted the “historic importance” of the European Council’s decision that granted Georgia a European perspective last year and outlined priorities for the country to obtain the bloc’s membership candidate status.
The officials also focused on the importance of strengthening Black Sea connectivity between Georgia and the EU and the country’s role in strengthening the energy security of member states of the bloc on the backdrop of the war.
In his remarks, Mora reaffirmed the EU’s “strong support” for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the bloc’s readiness to ensure its efforts for the peaceful resolution of conflicts on the territory of the country, including through its Monitoring Mission.
The EUMM is the only foreign mission in Georgia observing activities adjacent to the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
The European Council on Friday invited the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, to submit its opinions on the EU membership applications of the Republic of Moldova and Georgia.
Georgian foreign minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Thursday said his country was united with Ukraine and Moldova by common European integration goals.
Georgian foreign minister Ilia Darchiashvili will hold meetings in Moldova to discuss bilateral cooperation and the European integration agenda of the two countries on Thursday, the foreign ministry said.
Georgia's future is European and the country’s “place is in the European Union,” Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Ilia Darchiashvili said on Friday at a plenary meeting of the Georgian Parliament.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili will on Tuesday have “important meetings” with officials at the European Commission ahead of the body’s reports on the country’s European Union membership candidate status, Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, Georgia’s representative to the bloc, has told the media.
The implementation of the European Union conditions for granting Georgia the membership candidate status was discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Oliver Varhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.
The agenda of Georgia’s European integration, as well as the implemented and planned reforms by the country on this path, was discussed on Tuesday by Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs.
European Council President Charles Michel on Tuesday said the Council of the European Union must make a decision on starting the process of negotiations on the accession of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia to the bloc by the end of this year.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday claimed the plan of the opposition United National Movement party was to ensure the country did not receive the European Union membership candidate status and use the outcome to replace the Government.