Tbilisi “appreciates” European perspective but disapproves “unnecessary differentiation” with Ukraine, Moldova - Parliamentary Committee Chair
Botchorishvili highlighted Georgia had managed to be a “leader in the [South Caucasus] region” in transforming and reforming according to “best European standards”. Photo: Parliament press office
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Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday told the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for European Union Affairs in Madrid that her country “appreciated” the European Council’s decision last year to grant it a European perspective, but was “not hiding its disappointment” with the “unnecessary differentiation” between the country and the fellow EU membership aspirant countries Ukraine and Moldova, who were granted the membership candidate status.
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”.
Botchorishvili highlighted Georgia had managed to be a “leader in the [South Caucasus] region” in transforming and reforming according to “best European standards” despite “immense security challenges”.
In these turbulent and unpredictable times, when Russia is using the same pattern in Ukraine as it has used in Georgia, we do not have the luxury to delay important political decisions, which have to create a solid basis for expanding peace, security, and prosperity for the future of Europe, for our common future”, she said.
She stressed it would be “unfair” to divide Europe into “black and white today”, and reject the country’s European goals, which enjoyed “clear European identity and aspirations” and had fought against Russian aggression for more than three decades and had two of its regions still occupied by Moscow.
Domagoj Hajduković, the Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Croatian Parliament, on Monday said he hoped the “injustice” of European Union bodies denying Georgia the bloc’s membership candidate status in 2022 would be “corrected” with a decision on the matter later this year.
Glenn Bedingfield, an MP in the Maltese Parliament, on Monday said Georgia should receive the European Union membership candidate status in December.
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.
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.
Othmar Karas, the first Vice-President of the European Parliament, on Monday said he hoped there would be a “positive” decision on granting Georgia the European Union membership candidate status later this year.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday said her participation at the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for European Union Affairs in Madrid had demonstrated the issue of Georgia was on the agenda of EU member states “even more actively” than last year.
Iraikli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the Georgian Government was “doing its best” to make sure “not even the slightest excuse” was left for the country to be refused the European Union membership candidate status for the second year running.
Rati Ionatamishvili, an MP of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday highlighted the ruling party’s “political decision” to proceed with the approval of the action plan on the deoligarchisation bill.