PM says EU's "historic decision" on Georgia's candidacy can "determine" country's future

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said the country’s “future in Europe” would be determined by the upcoming recommendation of the European Commission on whether Georgia should be granted the European Union membership candidate status.

Garibashvili said the report, expected this week, would be a “historic decision”, and told special representatives of the EU and member states for the Eastern Partnership the “strong partnership” between the bloc and Georgia was the result of “joint efforts” and had “brought very concrete results”.

He extended his gratitude to the representatives for their support for Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, and noted their visit was coming “at a defining moment between the EU and Georgia”.

The PM called the visit a “visible confirmation” of the diplomats’ support for the country’s “European future” and said the “solid cooperation” between the bloc and Georgia had resulted in the visa-free EU travel for Georgian citizens in 2017, the 2014-signed Association Agreement between the sides, and the “historic decision” on the country’s European perspective in 2022.

Garibashvili added the Government was “waiting for another historic decision” with the European Commission’s upcoming report.