Georgian PM, European Commission President review EU integration, cooperation

Georgia's progress in implementing the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status was discussed on Thursday in a meeting between the Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit in Granada.

Garibashvili stressed the importance of the country’s success on the European integration path and of receiving the bloc’s candidate status later this year in both regional and global contexts, the Government Administration said. 

The Georgian official noted his Government had "done its best” to implement the recommendations, while the “process is still ongoing”.

He also added the Georgian authorities were closely cooperating with the European Union and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe in the process of implementing the recommendations.

Garibashvili expressed his hope that Georgia's progress and its efforts to implement the bloc’s priorities would be recognised “fairly”, and further pointed out that the country expected the “correct” political decision from the European Commission later this year.

The Georgian official also emphasised the “important role” of his country in ensuring regional security and noted that “Georgia is always ready to contribute to ensuring peace and stability in the region”.