Georgian PM: “main part” of EU candidacy conditions “implemented”
At a press conference with Josep Borrell, the visiting European Union High Representative, Garibashvili said the country and its citizens “deserved” to see the status granted. Photo: Government Administration
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said the “main part” of the conditions for Georgia to receive the European Union membership candidate status had been “implemented”, adding there were “a few recommendations that we are actively working on”.
At a press conference with Josep Borrell, the visiting European Union High Representative, Garibashvili said the country and its citizens “deserved” to see the status granted.
I spoke openly to Borrell and his delegation. I conveyed to him the stance of our Government that Georgia and the Georgian citizens deserve the candidate status. We do not say that we are perfect, no country and no government is perfect. It is an ongoing process and requires constant engagement”, Garibashvili said.
“The main part of the [12] recommendations have been implemented. This is a process on which we are ready to continue working with you, with your office, with the European Commission”, he told the visiting official.
Everyone in this country [...] - the ruling party, the Government, as well as the President, the opposition - everyone should say loudly and clearly that Georgia should be given the status by the end of the year. Since this is the only correct, historical - I would say, political - decision”, the Government head continued.
Garibashvili stressed his Government had carried out “a lot of reforms” in the judicial system to make it more “inclusive, transparent and accountable”.
“Over the last 10 years, the judiciary has undergone a transformation, and today it is truly a model system. Confidence in the courts in Georgia is very high, and in general, our court has the same level of confidence as European courts”, he noted.
Garibashvili also recalled the European perspective, granted by EU bodies to the country last year, calling the development a “historic decision” and extending his gratitude to the bloc on behalf of his Government.
"I would like to remind our friends once again that in the last 10 years, our Government has implemented important and most tangible reforms. If there is anyone, any political force in Georgia has achieved a specific result on the path of the country's European integration, it is the ruling Georgian Dream party. [...] We want to express our hope that in October the European Commission will address the Council with a positive recommendation and at the end of the year the country will receive the candidate status", Garibashvili said.
The Government head also expressed his condolences to the family of the minor who died as a result of a landslide in Georgia’s west.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday pledged the process of reforms in the country would continue until Georgia became a "full-fledged member of the European Union”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday hosted Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative at an official dinner.
Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative on Thursday said the EU door was open for Georgia and stressed the bloc “wants” to support the country on the path towards EU membership.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Thursday said the visit of Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative, to Georgia “certainly adds a new impetus” to Georgian-EU relations and will have “a significant impact” on the bloc’s decision in December on whether to grant Georgia its candidate status.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said his Government and the ruling Georgian Dream party were “absolutely ready” to cooperate with “all domestic opposition forces” to implement the “common national idea” and bring the country closer to the European Union.
Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative, on Friday highlighted Tbilisi’s “good work” in combating Russia’s circumvention of international sanctions imposed on it for its invasion of Ukraine last year.
Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative, on Friday confirmed the bloc’s commitment to support Georgia's progress on its path to join the EU in a meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in Tbilisi.
Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative on a visit to Georgia, on Friday stressed “Georgia no doubt belongs to European family”, before revealing the bloc’s “key messages” ahead of its decision later this year on whether to grant Tbilisi its candidate status.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Sunday said the Government would “in the near future” present a plan on “fully” completing its work on meeting the conditions for receiving the European Union membership candidate status in December.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday claimed the Government had a “very concrete interest” in receiving the European Union membership candidate status and its accompanying benefits for the country, while alleging the domestic opposition were “afraid” of the country achieving the recognition.
Georgia’s European Union Integration Commission on Thursday adopted an action plan for deoligarchisation to address one of the conditions for the bloc granting the country its membership candidate status.
Revaz Javelidze, the Head of the Georgian Government Administration, on Thursday said the action plan for deoligarchisation adopted by Georgia's European Union Integration Commission earlier today, was developed based on recommendations of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and “our European partners”.
Iraikli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday claimed the country would be “ready” to obtain the European Union membership candidate status by the end of this year.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Thursday discussed his country’s agenda for accession into the European Union with Peter Burke, the Minister of State for European Affairs of Ireland as part of his visit to the country.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday said he had addressed Claire Bazy Malaurie, the President of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, with a request for legal opinions on several documents aimed at fulfilling the European Union’s priorities for Georgia to receive its membership candidate status.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday in his address at the reception held on the occasion of the German Unity Day said he was confident the European Union would recognise Georgia’s advancements and geopolitical importance and would make “another historic decision” by granting the country its candidate membership status.