PM hails “historic day” on Georgia’s EU candidate status decision

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday hailed the European Commission’s recommendation for the European Council to grant the country the European Union membership candidate status as a “historic decision”.

In his remarks over the decision, Garibashvili extended his gratitude to Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the Commission, and Oliver Varhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement. 

“This is a historic decision of the European Commission. This is certainly a historic day”, the PM said.

The Government head claimed “the truth” had won with the recommendation, despite “numerous obstacles, resistance, sabotage, or provocations and numerous destructive actions, joint, coordinated actions of internal and external enemies”.

I would like to thank our united, strong team, the Parliament, each member of our team, the chair of the Parliament, the chair of our party, each member of our team, because this was the result of our joint work”, the official continued.

He also highlighted his Government had been working “around the clock” over the past year to implement the conditions for the country to be granted the status.

Garibashvili also added “if the Government does something, we do it for our citizens, for you, for our children, for our future and for our country”.

I want to congratulate every citizen of our country, our people [...] because this victory and this recognition, this honourable decision, belongs to our citizens, represented by our Government and our authorities”, PM said.

“I believe that today's decision will be finalised in December, the country will receive the membership candidate status. It can be said that our country will find itself in a different reality. This is undoubtedly a very strong step forward on the path of European integration”, he noted.

The Georgian official also said the outcome “would not have happened” without the “historic and transformative” change made to the domestic politics by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former PM and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, in 2012.

Of course, I would also like to thank our strategic partner, the United States. [...] [A] month ago I had decisive meetings with our American friends”, Garibashvili concluded.

Earlier today Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the Commission, said Georgia must receive the status as “steps have really been taken” for the outcome.