Georgian, French presidents review Georgia’s EU integration

In a video message posted on social media, Zourabichvili noted she had a “very useful” conversation about “our future European candidacy” with the French official. Photo: Presidential Administration

Agenda.ge, 06 Sep 2023 - 14:59, Tbilisi,Georgia

The work for gaining the European Union membership candidate status for Georgia, the country’s future and regional matters were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili and her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

In a video message posted on social media, Zourabichvili noted she had a “very useful” conversation about “our future European candidacy” with the French official.

In his return, Macron stressed the future of the Georgian citizens was “European”.

The meeting came as the Georgian Government initiated an impeachment procedure against Zourabichvili for her departure for a series of foreign visits this week despite the Government’s refusal to approve her request for the trips.

The Government Administration last week said it had rejected requests by Zourabichvili’s office for approval of her official visits to Germany, Ukraine, Switzerland, Poland, Belgium, Denmark, the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Israel. The visit to France was not scheduled by the Presidential Administration.

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said the decision of the ruling Georgian Dream party to initiate the impeachment procedure over Zourabichvili’s alleged violation of the constitution through her departure without authorisation was “completely justified”.