EU officials’ integration messages for Georgia voiced at Gov’t’s annual Ambassadorial Conference

Oliver Varhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on Tuesday addressed the ongoing annual Ambassadorial Conference in Georgia's capital city of Tbilisi by telling diplomats gathered for the event the country “belongs to the European family”.

Bringing together heads of diplomatic services of Georgia abroad, the event saw Varhelyi congratulate the country on the decision by the European Council to grant Georgia the status of an EU candidate country. 

It’s not a gift. This is a result of many months of hard work by you, your Government and people of Georgia. This hard work however must continue to advance on the EU path. From our side we’ll continue to help and to assist you on this extraordinary journey”, Varhelyi told the Conference through a video message. 

The official stressed the European Union was Georgia’s largest donor, providing close to €100 million through annual programmes to bring the country “closer” to the bloc. 

“And the following weeks and months the focus on aligning with the EU acquis will be stronger. Moreover, we want to accelerate the rolling out of the economic and investment plan in the flagship projects. We’ve already leveraged €1.8 billion in loans, guarantees, grants and budget support for Georgia under the plan”, he told the event.

This plan includes the preparation for the Black Sea submarine electricity cable as well as a €20 million investment grant for the digital cable itself. Both are vital for strengthening the connections between the EU and the South Caucasus”, he noted in reference to the initiative for connecting the energy grids of the South Caucasus and EU member states.

“I am also pleased that under the plan we have supported over 65,000 Georgian small and midsize enterprises. By firmly continuing the reform path Georgia will benefit even more from the economic opportunities our partnership can bring. Yet the EU is much more than an offer to successful economic partnership. It’s also a peace project and it stands like no other for democracy and freedom”, Varhelyi continued. 

The EU official stressed 2024 would be “another decisive” year. 

Your country will hold [parliamentary] elections and geopolitical challenges will most likely not diminish. At the same time with the necessary will and progress in addressing the nine steps of the Commission’s enlargement report, we’ll continue to work on the EU path for Georgia. Georgia belongs to the European family. Let me wish you a successful and prosperous 2024”, he concluded.  

Gert Jan Koopman, the Head of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission, told the Conference Georgia had “really earned” the “very important” step in its European path with the EU candidacy.

Gert Jan Koopman, the Head of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission, addresses the ongoing annual Ambassadorial Conference in Georgia's capital city of Tbilisi. Photo: MFA of Georgia

We have recommended the candidate status for Georgia following the excellent cooperation that we had with your authorities over the past year. You have really earned this very important step in your European path. I think as ambassadors you played a key role not just in picking up the information in the capitals in which you serve but also to communicate Georgia’s keen desire to join the European family - the desire not just of your Government but indeed of your people”, he said. 

Koopman noted 2024 would bring “a lot of further possibilities” through the candidate country status, which he called a “very important step”.

“[B]ut obviously you want to advance further and I hope that as we move to the New Year you will be liaising with partners on the ground in your capitals and beyond to discuss potential next steps. I think your commitment, your devotion, and your true belief in the European path of your country is a real asset”, he told the Georgian diplomats. 

Earlier today, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili commended the “shared commitment” of his Government and the country's public in obtaining the EU candidacy earlier this month. 

In his comments to the Conference, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili 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”.