German FM highlights importance of extending EU accession perspective for Georgia, Moldova, Western Balkans

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.

In her address at the Green Party Conference in Karlsruhe, Baerbock stressed “there should be no more [the so-called] grey areas left in Europe”, adding Ukraine would strengthen the EU “in the foreseeable future”.

• European Commission recommends granting Georgia EU membership candidate status

The European Commission on November 8 issued the recommendation for the European Council to grant Georgia the EU membership candidate status. The final decision on the country’s EU candidacy will be announced in December.

Earlier this week, Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said the Government would send the EU its “detailed” action plan for fulfilling the priorities set out by the Commission.

He stressed that “everything” would be done “in the interests of the country, its European integration and the rule of law”.