Gov't has "a lot of progress" in EU candidate status work, expectations “quite positive” - PM
He said the Government had "done its best” to be granted the status and had “made it through to the end despite numerous attempts of destruction and sabotage” from domestic opposition as well as efforts of unspecified forces "both local and external to hinder the process in any manner”. Photo: PM's Press Office
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday said his Government had made "a lot of progress" on obtaining the European Union membership candidate status later this year and added expectations were “quite positive” about the outcome of the work.
Garibashvili stressed the work with the EU Commission and its structures was being “actively” carried out, with “final clarifications” being made on fulfilment of the conditions for the status, while also announcing his upcoming visit to Brussels.
He said the Government had "done its best” to be granted the status and had “made it through to the end despite numerous attempts of destruction and sabotage” from domestic opposition as well as efforts of unspecified forces "both local and external to hinder the process in any manner”.
The PM said Georgia" deserved" to be granted the candidate status because of his Government’s efforts, mobilisation of the country’s citizens and expression of their will, and noted the bloc’s 2022 decision not to grant Georgia the status was “absolutely unacceptable, unjustified and a gross mistake” by the Union.
The Government head also wished success to countries that were granted the status last year, and added his “main focus and attention” was on his country and the efforts that his Government had accomplished.
In his comments on the ruling made by the country’s Constitutional Court on Monday to back President Salome Zourabichvili’s impeachment - initiated by the ruling Georgian Dream party last month for her recent foreign visits without the Government's authorisation - Garibashvili said it would have “no effect” on Georgia’s European integration path and claimed it was the Government’s "obligation" to "protect the country’s Constitution and law".
He also said the Government's actions were a “positive signal” for Brussels as they were “setting an example” for the protection of the law and the Constitution.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Monday said she had “no plans to resign”, in response to the ruling by the country’s Constitutional Court earlier during the day which backed her impeachment initiated by the ruling Georgian Dream party last month for her recent foreign visits without the Government's authorisation.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Thursday said his Government was “very disappointed and angry” at the European Council’s 2022 decision not to grant Georgia its membership candidate status while granting it to the countries that were “far behind” in terms of their qualifications.
Georgia's progress on the European Union accession path and implementation of the bloc’s conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Oliver Varhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.
Georgia’s European integration and the implementation of the priorities outlined by the European Union for granting the country its membership candidate status were discussed on Monday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Gert Jan Koopman, the head of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission.
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”.
Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative on a visit to Georgia, on Friday stressed “Georgia no doubt belongs to European family”, before revealing the bloc’s “key messages” ahead of its decision later this year on whether to grant Tbilisi its candidate status.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said the country was “one of the top” economic performers among the European Union membership aspiring countries.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's European Union Integration Committee, on Saturday said Georgia’s partners “appreciated” the progress achieved by the country over the years.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday claimed “all issues” raised during the September visit of Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative and the Vice President of the European Commission, around the Georgian Government's fulfilment of the bloc’s conditions for granting the country its membership candidate status had been “addressed”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday told the Global Gateway Forum the country remained “determined in its choice to align” with the European Union and its values, “despite the challenges Georgia faces”.