Parliament Speaker: EU must show its “reliability” in supporting Georgian people’s European aspirations
As for the Government’s expectations regarding the EU status, Papuashvili expressed hope that the bloc would “correct the mistake” of non-granting the country candidate status last year, highlighting European partners’ frequent statements about this “mistake”. Photo via Parliament of Georgia
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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.
In an interview with the Public Broadcaster, Papuashvili stressed the latest EU research showed that the positive attitude towards the bloc among the Georgian population had decreased by 11 percent over the last year, noting “I believe this is a reflection of the disappointment that our society has towards the EU, as last year [...] we saw a unfair decision [not granting the country candidate membership status] about Georgia”.
As for the Government’s expectations regarding the EU status, Papuashvili expressed hope that the bloc would “correct the mistake” of non-granting the country candidate status last year, highlighting European partners’ frequent statements about this “mistake”.
He also emphasised that even if Georgia did not fulfil the priorities outlined by the EU for granting its membership candidate status, the country would still be “a leader in all parameters” compared to Ukraine and Moldova, which were granted the status last year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday highlighted the strategic partnership signed with Hungary last year and the latter country’s “firm and unconditional” support for Georgia’s European integration in a Tbilisi meeting with his Hungarian counterpart László Kövér.
Glenn Bedingfield, an MP in the Maltese Parliament, on Monday said Georgia should receive the European Union membership candidate status in December.