Parliament Speaker: EU has recognised Georgia’s future as “full-fledged” member of its community

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said in a social media message the “historic recommendation” of the European Commission to grant Georgia the European Union membership candidate status had recognised the country’s future as a “full-fledged member of the European community of nations”.

• European Commission recommends granting Georgia EU membership candidate status

Papuashvili noted it was “highly symbolic” that the release of the Commission’s report coincided with the anniversary of the birth of Ilia Chavchavadze - Georgian publicist, author and a major figure of the country's 19th century national movement - calling him the “great historical champion of our country’s freedom and modern statehood”. 

Papuashvili said this decision was also a “strong response” to the Russian occupation of Georgian regions. 

It sends a message that Georgia is not alone and that our European partners and friends stand with us. This is the first step of the strategic decision to establish Europe’s foothold in the Caucasus”, he said.

The European Commission has just released the report on the membership aspiring countries, including Georgia.

I welcome and appreciate the Commission’s positive assessment and the recommendation to give a candidate country status to Georgia. With this historic recommendation,… pic.twitter.com/T69S06fY0H

— Shalva Papuashvili ???????? (@shpapuashvili) November 8, 2023