Parliament Speaker - Georgia’s EU candidacy “greatest victory” in modern history

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said the country had achieved one of the “greatest victories” in its modern history by obtaining the European Union membership candidate status this month “despite internal and external challenges”.

Papuashvili told the ongoing annual Ambassadorial Conference in Tbilisi obtaining the status was an “important step” on the EU integration path, and noted Parliament had worked “productively” to fulfil the recommendations outlined by the EU in “close cooperation” with the Government.

He also extended his gratitude to ambassadors of the EU member states for their efforts in the country being granted the status.

The parliamentary diplomatic efforts would not have been possible without your active and professional high-level support. Therefore [...] I would like to thank you for your professionalism. You have made a great contribution to strengthening the country's European future”, he said.

The Speaker noted the country had already achieved one of the two “fundamental steps” on the path to EU membership with the status, and added it would be followed by work “with even more energy” for gaining full membership of the EU.

He told the event the Government had maintained the “level of peace and security” that was “necessary for improving citizens’ welfare”, strengthening the economy and developing the country as a result of “correct domestic and foreign policies” despite “difficulties throughout the past year”.

Papuashvili claimed “large-scale campaigns of disinformation and false narratives, provocations, attempts to create confusion and instability, misperceptions” were expected in the following year ahead of the parliamentary elections.

He said “timely and appropriate” communication with international partners would be “important” along with development of close ties with them, a task in which he said Georgian ambassadors played a “big role”. 

[I]n today's information age, social media tools have gained a lot of power. Therefore, we ask for more activity and more efforts to work with international partners and foreign societies, both through traditional diplomatic methods and through social media. It is the duty of each of us to expose disinformation campaigns against the country”, he said.

The head of the legislative body extended his gratitude to the country’s ambassadors for their “faithful service” and “protection of the country’s national interests” in various parts of the world.