Georgian PM addresses EU leaders to back Tbilisi’s EU candidacy in “watershed moment” for integration

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday addressed Charles Michel, the European Council President, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish PM whose country chairs the Council of the EU, and leaders of the bloc’s member states to back his country’s EU candidacy in a “watershed moment” for its integration this week. 

Expressing his “sincere gratitude” to the officials for supporting Georgia’s EU aspirations, the PM in a letter stressed the June 2022 decision by the European Council to grant his country a European perspective had opened an “entirely new chapter” in relations with the bloc. 

• See the PM's letters to EU leaders here. 

He stressed the “historic decision” had landed a “powerful message” confirming Georgia would become an EU member state and noted the outcome would come with “long-term commitments and responsibilities”. 

Pledging his office was “fully mobilised and resolved” to continue and further accelerate reforms necessary on the EU accession path, Garibashvili claimed the authorities had demonstrated their “robust commitment” to ensure the country’s EU integration since taking office in 2012. 

He said the commitment included the “far-reaching” Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area deal - signed with the bloc in 2014 - as well as the deal for visa-free travel, a “strong security partnership”, “enhanced trade relations” and “advanced cooperation” in a number of sectors. 

The PM suggested his country had also demonstrated its “strongest will” to address the 12-point conditions outlined by the bloc last year for granting Georgia the requested status. 

Our Government has delivered concrete results translated into specific actions and massive legislative work implemented by Georgia to honour its commitments and progressively align with the EU acquis”, he said.

The Government head added the European Commission’s positive recommendation to the Council on November 8 to grant Georgia the candidate status had “reaffirmed our resolve to continue delivering on our far-reaching European reform agenda”. 

Expressing his “firm belief” that the EU would continue standing by Georgia by making “another historic decision” to grant the country the status at the end of this week, Garibashvili highlighted the move would put Georgia on an “irreversible track” towards accession negotiations to become a full-fledged member of the EU. 

This is a watershed moment for Georgia's European future, and equally for the credibility of the EU's enlargement policy as a geostrategic investment in peace, stability, and prosperity in the whole of Europe”, he noted.  

Garibashvili added in the “heavily contested region”, his office was taking actions to strengthen Georgia's role as a “stronghold of regional peace and stability, democratic development, and cooperation, as well as a crucial link on the global connectivity map offering alternative routes for energy, freight transportation, and trade in the Black Sea”. 

We are confident that Georgia, as a future EU member state, will play a key role for the common good of Europe”, the PM stressed, before saying the status would also serve as an “additional impetus” for establishing “lasting peace” in Georgia. 

Expressing his appreciation to the EU for the “unwavering support” to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of his country, as well as “valuable contribution and support” to peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict, Garibashvili stressed the “strong engagement” of the EU and its member states would be “critical” for the peaceful reintegration of the occupied regions. 

He said the “future of Georgia” was “in the EU” and had “no alternative”, adding the country and its Government were anticipating a “strategic and forward-looking decision” on the EU status this week from member states to “firmly anchor” the country with the “family of European democracies”.