Gov’t committed to fulfilling “historic mission” on European integration - FM
Darchiashvili said the “historic” move on EU candidacy had created a “legal basis” for the country’s eventual accession to the bloc. Photo: MFA Georgia
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Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Wednesday asserted the country’s authorities were committed to fulfilling the “historical mission” of the country’s European integration, a task he said had been “entrusted” to the authorities by the people.
The official’s comments for Imedi TV, which came following the European Council’s decision this month to grant Tbilisi the European Union membership candidate status, also highlighted the “historic” move had created a “legal basis” for the country’s eventual accession to the bloc.
Pointing to the Government's work for EU integration, the FM claimed it had “not wasted a minute to push forward with our ambitious reform agenda”, adding the work continued and the achieved result was a “huge contribution of each public servant [and] each diplomat”, to whom he extended gratitude for the efforts.
Discussing the “challenging path” of integration, Darchiashvili emphasised not only Georgia but also recent entrants to the bloc had encountered difficulties. Expressing disappointment with last year's decision denying the country the candidate status, the official commended the Government's” relentless pursuit” of its reform agenda.
He also assured transparency over the nine conditions outlined by the European Commission in November for opening accession talks with Tbilisi, claiming there were “no secrets” in the action plan elaborated by the authorities to meet the conditions.
The action plan outlines specific dates, steps for each recommendation, and the responsible institutions. We are working openly and consistently with the Commission, and once finalised, the document will be made public”, Darchiashvili said.
The Minister also claimed statements by a part of the domestic opposition had “impeded” the integration process, alleging they “could not overcome their political agenda” and had “knowingly or inadvertently” hindered the work.
Charles Michel, the European Council President, on Thursday said the Council granted Georgia the European Union membership candidate status.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party and Gert Jan Koopman, the Head of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission, on Wednesday reviewed Georgia’s European integration path.
The Government of Georgia on Monday approved the 2024-2027 Communication Strategy for developing a unified vision of a “proactive, coherent and coordinated” communication between the Government and the public.
The Georgian Government on Monday approved an action plan for fulfilling the priorities set out by the European Commission in its recommendation for the country to be granted the European Union membership candidate status.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's European Union Integration Committee, on Wednesday said the results of the work of the Georgian foreign office were “apparent”, particularly in the country being granted the European Union membership candidate status last week.
Georgia's accession to the European Union, cooperation with the Czech legislative body and future plans were discussed on Thursday in a meeting between Archil Talakvadze, the Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker and Petr Kubernát, the newly appointed Czech Ambassador to the country.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday awarded Teimuraz Janjalia, his Deputy, and Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, the country’s Ambassador to the European Union, with a prize recognising their contributions to the work that ensured the country received the EU membership candidate status last week.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday expressed the ruling team’s confidence the country would join the European Union before Ukraine and Moldova.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday said the ruling party would hold the convention next week to review its general policy and preparation for the 2024 parliamentary elections.
Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Georgian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, on Friday said Georgia could close accession negotiations with the European Union, once the bloc would open it with the country, “much more rapidly” than any other country.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday commended the “shared commitment” of his Government and the country's public in obtaining the European Union membership candidate status this month.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Tuesday highlighted the country’s “special, civilisational” ties with Europe, and further pointed out that “our European partners rightly believe that Georgia belongs to the European family”, in comments at the ongoing annual Ambassadorial Conference in Georgia's capital city of Tbilisi.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Adrienn Kiraly, a new Director of the Neighbourhood East and Institution Building of the European Commission, on Tuesday discussed the legislative body’s plans regarding the implementation of nine priorities outlined by the Commission for the country to open the European Union accession talks.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, who is visiting Turkey, will meet the country’s top officials on Thursday to discuss ways of further strengthening the strategic partnership between the states, the Georgian foreign office said.