FM urges opposition to refrain from “false allegations” on “failed reforms”, avoid harm to EU integration
FM Ilia Darchiashvili called the country's prospects to obtain the EU candidacy “vitally important”. Photo: Parliament press office
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Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday urged members of domestic opposition groups to refrain from making “false allegations over failed reforms” and hampering the country’s work to obtain the European Union membership candidate status later this year, an objective he called “vitally important”.
In his comments at the legislative body, the FM pointed to the opposition’s refusal to join the Government's work to implement reforms for meeting EU candidacy conditions, and urged them to avoid using the term “failed reforms” “for at least [the next] three or four months”.
If you do not want to contribute to this process, at least avoid damaging it with your words”, Darchiashvili told opposition lawmakers.
The European Commission is scheduled to present its final report on Georgia’s implementation of candidacy conditions in early November, according to latest comments by the bloc’s officials. The report will be used by the European Council in December to decide on Tbilisi’s status.
The Georgian Government officially applied for EU membership in March 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ilia Darchiashvili, the Georgian Foreign Minister, on Friday told the Parliament the Government had acted “in full compliance” with the country’s Constitution when it signed a strategic partnership agreement with China in July without the consent of the Parliament.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Tuesday discussed his Government's efforts to meet the European Union’s conditions for granting Tbilisi its membership candidate status with Paolo Gentiloni, the European Commissioner for Economic Affairs, as part of his Strasbourg trip.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said consultations regarding the fulfilment of the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status later this year were ongoing.
Shalva Papuashvili, the Georgian Parliament Speaker, on Thursday said Tbilisi had done “everything” to obtain the European Union membership candidate status and the country “deserved” it.
Davit Matikashvili, an MP for the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said the country would receive the European Union membership candidate status later this year, leading to a "bitter defeat" for the domestic “radical” opposition.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday told the legislative body “disinformation” had become the “main tool for deepening polarisation in the country’s domestic politics, weakening state institutions and damaging foreign policy goals”.