Parliament Speaker: Georgian citizens expecting “fair” decision on EU candidate status

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said the country’s citizens were expecting a “fair” decision of the European Council on the European Union membership candidate status for the state.

Papuashvili said the country “deserved” to receive the status, ahead of the Council’s anticipated decision on Friday.

We have heard for a long time that a decision will be made based on merit - the merit is there, a decision is needed now, [and] there is no reason for any other decision to be made”, he said. 

The chief Georgian legislator also commented on the Hungarian Government’s position on opposing the granting of the status to Ukraine by saying the development was unrelated to Georgia’s aspirations to receive the candidacy.

I do not think it has any influence. I do not think there is any connection between Hungary's position towards Ukraine and the EU's position towards Georgia”, he noted. 

Papuashvili claimed Georgian citizens “do not deserve [...] using Georgia’s matter as a weapon in negotiations”, and further pointed out the Hungarian Government had a “particularly positive” attitude towards Georgia.