MEP stresses “geopolitical mistake” of not granting Georgia EU candidate status in 2022
In comments on the ongoing work for the country to receive the status in 2023, Sánchez Amor noted “if Georgia fulfils the conditions, there should be an offer of candidate status”. Photo: European Parliament
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Nacho Sánchez Amor, a member of the European Parliament, on Wednesday highlighted the “geopolitical mistake” of the European Council not granting Georgia the European Union membership candidate status last year.
In comments on the ongoing work for the country to receive the status in 2023, Sánchez Amor noted “if Georgia fulfils the conditions, there should be an offer of candidate status”.
In my opinion, last year, when Georgia was not offered a status like Moldova and Ukraine, it was a geopolitical mistake. Rather than reducing polarisation, this has created a landscape for more polarisation [of the domestic political life]”, Sánchez Amor said.
The MEP stressed that now the Georgian Parliament and the domestic parties must try to offer Brussels and EU member states an image of a country “united” around the goal.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's European Union Integration Committee, on Tuesday said the Government’s European partners were “acknowledging” the “mistake” of last year’s decision not to grant the country the European Union membership candidate status.
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.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's European Union Integration Committee, on Tuesday said the Government’s European partners were “acknowledging” the “mistake” of last year’s decision not to grant the country the European Union membership candidate status.
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”.
Beka Davituliani, a member of the Parliamentary majority in the Georgian legislative body, on Monday said Europe needed to have a “stronghold like Georgia” in the South Caucasus region, while the country needed to receive the European Union membership candidate status and become a full member of the bloc.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday said the European Union had to show its “credibility and reliability” in supporting Georgian people’s European aspirations.
Georgia’s European Union integration process was discussed on Sunday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Vasile Dîncu, the Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Romanian Senate, on Monday said his country’s Government “strongly” supported not only the integration of Georgia into the European Union, but also its accession to NATO.
She stressed EU bodies granting candidate status to Georgia later this year and opening negotiations with candidate countries, together giving them a “clear roadmap” to EU membership, was the “only way” to go, and added “it requires strong support, and we count on you with this regard”.