Borrell says “no doubt” Georgia belongs to European family in “key messages” for visit
Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili on Friday hosted Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative. Photo: Government press office
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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.
In a press briefing with the country’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, the EU official stressed he wanted to “personally convey this message” while on his first trip to the country, noting he had seen a “very strong spirit of the Georgian people” to join the bloc.
Eighty percent of Georgians support joining the EU - this is an impressive number, but it is not just a number. I am very glad that many European flags are flying in the streets of Georgia and Tbilisi. I should say they are even more than in Brussels”, he said.
Another of Borrell’s messages highlighted the need for unity of “all political forces” in the country for Georgia’s EU integration, with the High Representative saying the integration process was a “joint effort” and that the Government and the ruling party carried the “main responsibility” to create possibilities for cooperation.
At this stage, all efforts should be focused on reducing political tensions. This political and historical opportunity should not be lost, and you should work together for this, because further steps on the European path will depend on merits and results achieved, and the result will be achieved on the basis of joint efforts”, he said.
Borrell launched his press briefing with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in Tbilisi by expressing condolences to a family of a minor killed in western Georgia after landslides hit Guria and Adjara regions on Thursday and early Friday. Photo: Government press office.
The EU official noted Georgia had “fully completed” three of the 12 recommendations of the bloc to obtain the candidate status, and added “time still remained” to meet the conditions that were partially met or unfulfilled.
He stressed “depolarisation, deoligarchisation, political, economic, social, judicial, electoral reforms, media pluralism and human rights” as first priorities, adding “there is no shortcut to accomplishing this - it all requires a lot of hard work, political will and a clear commitment to EU values”.
The EU representative said actors in Georgia should resolve the problem of the polarised political scene, noting the impeachment procedures announced by the ruling Georgian Dream party against President Salome Zourabichvili this week for her unauthorised foreign visits could further exacerbate the atmosphere.
Borrell highlighted the work for the bloc’s membership as being “worth it” for not only the EU candidate status but also “improvements in [Georgian] citizens’ daily lives”.
Had a timely exchange with Prime Minister @GharibashviliGe.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) September 8, 2023
I passed 3 messages:
- Georgia belongs to the European family. Time must be used wisely now to advance reforms.
- We welcome Georgia’s support to Ukraine.
- EU’s unwavering support to Georgia‘s territorial integrity. pic.twitter.com/d2B6HbVHa2
Speaking about foreign policy priorities, the EU official emphasised the bloc’s support for Ukraine in its ongoing fight against Russian invasion, and stressed “our most close allies should work in coordination on the international level to isolate Russia”.
In this note, Borrell condemned the recent resumption of direct flights between Russia and Georgia, but noted he welcomed “close cooperation [with the Georgian Government] aimed at countering sanctions evasion by Moscow”.
He also rejected claims voiced by several former or current members of the ruling party about the West’s efforts to “drag” Georgia into the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict as “part of Russian propaganda”, which he claimed was “strong” and adding “no one would think” of a scenario.
Reiterating the EU’s support for Georgia, Borrell said the bloc had “never abandoned and will never abandon Georgia”, but noted the integration process would be “merit-based”.
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.
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.
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”.
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”.
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.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday said the Political Council of the party had decided to initiate an impeachment procedure against President Salome Zourabichvili over her “gross violation” of the constitution through her departure on an official visit abroad without the Government’s authorisation.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said his Government was acting by “protecting and taking into account the country’s national interests” over positions taken with regard to the war in Ukraine, in comments at a press conference with Josep Borrell, the visiting European Union High Representative.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday highlighted his meeting with Josep Borrell, the visiting European Union High Representative, by describing the discussion as “productive”.
Georgia’s European integration and cooperation between the country and the European Union in defence and security were discussed on Friday in a meeting between the Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Josep Borrell, the visiting European Union High Representative.
Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative on Friday visited the administrative line separating the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the rest of the country, to hear from the European Union monitoring mission about developments in the area.
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.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Monday reviewed his visit to Georgia last week by saying the bloc wanted to “see Georgia succeeding on its European path”.
Teona Akubardia, an opposition MP in the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday called for “caution” in Ukrainian officials’ comments on Georgia’s internal politics for the purpose of “maintaining friendship” and “for the sake of a common struggle”, in response to remarks by Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who on Sunday said Georgia had “zero” chances of joining the European Union under the current Government.
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.
Helmut Scholz, a member of the European Parliament, on Wednesday highlighted “very big chances” of European Union integration for Georgia, noting the country was developing “in the right direction” and pointing to “mutual obligations” over the bloc’s potential enlargement.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said there would be “no reasons” for the European Union bodies to reject granting the country the bloc’s membership candidate status, after noting the Government’s approval on Thursday of an action plan for deoligarchisation to address one of the conditions for receiving the status.
Georgia’s European integration and the implementation of the priorities outlined by the European Union for granting the country its membership candidate status were discussed on Monday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Gert Jan Koopman, the head of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday said the country “deserved” to be granted the European Union membership candidate status considering the reforms and progress in the efforts for achieving the objective and its challenging geopolitical situation.
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.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday said his Government had made "a lot of progress" on obtaining the European Union membership candidate status later this year and added expectations were “quite positive” about the outcome of the work.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday claimed “all issues” raised during the September visit of Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative and the Vice President of the European Commission, around the Georgian Government's fulfilment of the bloc’s conditions for granting the country its membership candidate status had been “addressed”.