Georgian PM, German Chancellor discuss European Commission’s positive decision on Georgia’s EU candidacy
The Georgian Head of the Government thanked the German Chancellor for his important help and support in the process of implementing the EU recommendations, outlined by the bloc for granting its candidate status to the country, and noted the Government would continue to successfully fulfil the priorities. Photo via Government Administration
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday discussed the positive decision of the European Commission to recommend the European Council to grant Georgia the European Union membership candidate status.
In a phone conversation, Scholz positively assessed the progress achieved by Georgia on its path to European integration, which was confirmed by the Commission’s decision, and said his country would continue to support Georgia’s EU integration.
Productive call with @Bundeskanzler ????????, focusing on Georgia's EU candidacy. The @EU_Commission’s positive recommendation highlights our collaborative efforts. We are grateful to @Bundeskanzler ???????? for being a strong supporter in our ????????journey!
— Irakli Garibashvili (@GharibashviliGe) November 16, 2023
Garibashvili said his country was waiting for the confirmation of the Commission's positive recommendation from the European Council in December, which would take Georgia to “a new stage” of integration into the EU.
The Georgian Head of the Government thanked the German Chancellor for his important help and support in the process of implementing the EU recommendations, outlined by the bloc for granting its candidate status to the country, and noted the Government would continue to successfully fulfil the priorities.
He stressed the “great importance” of Germany’s further support on the way to European integration, with the officials agreeing to continue “intensive communication and result-oriented” cooperation in the future.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Thursday said Germany becoming “one of the main” supporters for Georgia’s European future gave cause for “more optimism” over the country’s European Union candidacy.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday said Georgia and Moldova were classified as safe countries of origin, adding it was “not plausible” to assume “systemic oppression” in the two states.
Peter Fischer, the German Ambassador to Georgia, on Tuesday lauded the importance of the European Union in his address at the reception in Tbilisi dedicated to his country’s Unity Day, and stressed the bloc was “available” to Georgia.
Anna Lührmann, the German Minister of State for Europe, on Tuesday said she was looking forward to the day when “Georgia becomes a member of the European Union”.
The European Commission’s recommendation to the European Council to grant the country the European Union membership candidate status was discussed on Friday at a meeting of the EU Integration Commission of Georgia led by the Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday said the “long-term” responsibility of the Georgian Government was to bring the country “as close as possible” to the “European family” and see it become its “worthy member”.
Peter Fischer, the German Ambassador to Georgia, on Friday said his Government had classified Georgia as a country of safe origin, leading to Georgian citizens seeking asylum in Germany having to prove they are being persecuted or having their individual and human rights violated in their home country.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Saturday highlighted the importance of extending the perspective of European Union membership to Georgia, Moldova and the Western Balkans.
The German Bundesrat on Friday recognised Georgia and Moldova as safe countries of origin, leading to a rapid procession of asylum seeker applications from the countries and effective reduction of illegal migration.
The Georgian and German interior ministers on Tuesday signed an agreement on migration and mobility between the states in Tbilisi with the primary objective to strengthen cooperation for labour migration and education.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Susanne Baumann, the Secretary of State at the German Federal Foreign Office, on Sunday discussed the dynamics of close partnership in bilateral relations and multidimensional cooperation.