EU High Commissioner confirms support for Georgia joining in meeting with PM

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.

Held before the two official’s joint press briefing, the meeting discussed Georgia’s partnership with the EU and the Government's ongoing efforts to ensure an “inclusive and transparent process” to meet the 12 conditions outlined by the EU last year for granting the country the status, the Government press office said. 

• Borrell highlights Georgian Gov’t’s “good work” in combating evasion of Russia sanctions

Garibashvili reaffirmed his Government's “strong will” to proceed with the ongoing democratic reform agenda, before hailing the first Georgian visit of the EU official - which comes before the bloc’s forthcoming decision on Tbilisi’s candidate status later this year - as a “confirmation of support and partnership”. 

• Borrell says “no doubt” Georgia belongs to European family in “key messages” for visit

The discussion also involved topics of international security and ongoing challenges sparked by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, EU’s role to promote peace and security worldwide, and the activities of its Monitoring Mission in Georgia, with the parties giving “positive assessments” to Georgia’s engagement in global projects and the country’s “strategic importance” for the bloc.