PM tells European Commission official Gov’t anticipating EU candidacy in December

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday told Kadri Simson, the European Commissioner for Energy Affairs, his Government was anticipating the granting of the European Union membership candidate status to the country following the positive recommendation of the European Commission this month.

The Government Administration said Garibashvili and Simson discussed the importance of starting a “high-level energy dialogue” between the EU and Georgia considering the “crucial stage” of the process for the country to be granted the candidacy.

• European Commission recommends granting Georgia EU membership candidate status

The officials also discussed cooperation in energy and highlighted Georgia’s “growing role” in ensuring energy safety in Europe. Garibashvili noted Georgia was “ready to play an important role” in promoting Europe's energy security by fully utilising its transit potential and green energy generation opportunities. 

The meeting discussed energy projects of global importance involving Georgia, including the Black Sea submarine cable project that intends to connect the grids of the South Caucasus and European Union member countries.

The Administration said the sides reviewed the potential of Georgia’s “rich” hydro and renewable energy resources, noting its “significant” potential in the production of “excess energy” from renewable sources which could be supplied to neighbouring countries. They also emphasised the importance of deepening Georgia’s cooperation with the EU in green energy development.

The meeting was also attended by Barbara Glowacka, the Member of the Cabinet of the European Commissioner, Pawel Herczynski, the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Levan Davitashvili, Georgia’s Economy Minister, Romeo Mikautadze, the country’s Deputy Economy Minister, and Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, the Georgian Ambassador to Belgium and the Head of the Representation of Georgia to the EU.