Georgia’s EU Ambassador: “important” to continue working on European integration path
In his remarks over the matter, Makharoblishvili noted the Georgian Government had “close” communication with relevant offices of the European Commission and would “continue to do so”. Photo: MFA of Georgia
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Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, Georgia's Ambassador to the European Union, on Tuesday said it was “important” to continue working on the path of European integration in order to achieve the further goal of opening the accession negotiations with and joining the European Union.
In his remarks over the matter, Makharoblishvili noted the Georgian Government had “close” communication with relevant offices of the European Commission and would “continue to do so”.
It was very important when the European Commission adopted the [enlargement] report and gave a clear recommendation. The Georgian side did not wait for the decision of the European Council and started actively working on the action plan - that is, on the next steps - already in November”, he said.
The diplomat stressed the country’s European partners had welcomed the fact that the Georgian authorities had “immediately” started work on implementation of subsequent steps in the integration process.
It is very important to continue working in order to move forward, to start the accession negotiations on time and to fulfil the dream of membership in the European Union. This is a live, working process. We are constantly in very close contact with relevant institutions of the European Commission”, the diplomat added.
Earlier today, Gert Jan Koopman, the Head of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission, told the ongoing annual Ambassadorial Conference in Georgia's capital city of Tbilisi the country had “really earned” the “very important” step in its European path with the EU candidacy.
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”.
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”.
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 Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Tuesday said the Government of the ruling Georgian Dream party was “consistently implementing” the policy that was “bringing the country closer to the European family”.
Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party and Tbilisi Mayor, on Wednesday said the “policy and consistency” shown by the ruling Georgian Dream party since 2012 had resulted in the country receiving the European Union membership candidate status earlier this month.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday said the country was “embarking on the path to European Union membership” following membership candidate status it received last month.