Georgian PM: “main part” of EU candidacy conditions “implemented”

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.