Romania, Slovenia back Georgia’s EU candidacy at Berlin conference on bloc’s enlargement

Romanian and Slovenian officials on Thursday expressed their support for Georgia to be granted the European Union membership candidate status in December at a conference hosted in Berlin on the bloc’s enlargement. 

Daniela Gîtman, the Romanian Secretary of State for European Affairs, said her Government “strongly supported” Georgia’s EU candidacy and opening of accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. 

Romania supports EU enlargement and this is the only answer. At the same time, we should listen to our partners, what they need help with”, the official said. 

In her comments, Tanja Fajon, the Slovenian Foreign Minister, said “we need to speed up the enlargement process in order to make the enlargement possible”. 

I think 2030 is a good date for expansion. My country is a strong supporter of Georgia's efforts to become a member of the EU. We want the countries involved in the process to carry out reforms and make progress for human rights and the rule of law", she added. 

Ilia Darchiashvili, the Georgian Foreign Minister, is also attending the conference bringing together foreign ministers of EU member states and countries seeking membership, to discuss issues related to the bloc’s planned enlargement by 2030. 

Georgia officially applied for EU membership in March 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and was granted a European perspective and a reform agenda in June of that year to obtain the bloc’s candidacy. 

The European Commission is scheduled to present its final report on Georgia’s meeting the candidacy conditions on November 8, which will be used by the European Council in December to decide on the country’s status.