FM: Georgia, entering final phase of EU accession, will inevitably become full member of Union

Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Saturday said the country entered the “final phase” of the accession process to the European Union and the final decision would “inevitably” mean Georgia’s full membership of the Union.

In an interview with Imedi TV, Darchiashvili highlighted the European Council’s decision of June 23 to recognise Georgia’s European perspective for membership as the “most important decision”, with the European partners giving a “political promise” that the country would “definitely” become a member of the EU.

• Georgian FM welcomes EU report as “clear confirmation” country deserves candidate status

Darchiashvili emphasised that the European perspective [along with the EU membership candidate status] had been given to Ukraine and Moldova, and noted he believed the European Commission would develop the “relevant recommendations” for these countries to move into a “new stage” of accession negotiations.

The process of European integration and, in general, the full membership of the country in the EU is a “very difficult and time-consuming” process, Darchiashvili said, stressing the importance to believe in the country’s abilities to achieve the final overall goal [full membership of the EU].