Ambassador lauds “very promising” comments by Georgia’s PM designate on EU integration work
Herczynski reaffirmed the EU’s readiness to collaborate with “all Georgian administrations” and PMs. Photo: EU in Georgia press office
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Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Friday commended “very promising” initial statements by Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate presented by the ruling Georgian Dream party for the position of the Prime Minister, as part of his commitment to advancing the country’s EU integration progress through implementation of the conditions for opening accession talks with the bloc.
In his press comments, the diplomat stressed the pace of implementation of the conditions, as outlined by the European Commission in November and approved by the European Council in December through granting Tbilisi the EU membership candidate status, rested upon Georgia's political elite.
The conditions range from efforts to combat disinformation and foreign information manipulation about the EU and its values, to further alignment of the country’s foreign and security policies with the bloc, to reforms in the judiciary, electoral and human rights areas. They also include ensuring a systemic approach to deoligarchisation, additional efforts for depolarising the domestic political environment and improvements to the Parliament's oversight function.
Pointing to the importance of ensuring an “inclusive process” with the participation of “all political actors” for meeting the priorities, the Ambassador said he hoped for a “constructive involvement” of domestic opposition groups and the “full engagement” of the civil sector even with upcoming parliamentary elections in October.
Herczynski also affirmed the EU’s readiness to collaborate with “all Georgian administrations” and PMs, and expressed optimism for “continued success” in cooperation with the incoming government under Kobakhidze, echoing the “fruitful partnership” with the outgoing head of the Government.
The Georgian Parliament is scheduled to vote on the new PM and his cabinet composition next week.
A session of the Congress of the ruling Georgian Dream party on Thursday elected Irakli Garibashvili, the country’s Prime Minister who announced his resignation on Monday, as the party’s new Chair, while nominating incumbent GD Char Irakli Kobakhidze as his replacement.
Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Friday said he hoped a “prompt initiation” of accession talks between the country and the bloc could be facilitated, stressing the pace of the transition was contingent upon Tbilisi’s fulfilment of the nine conditions set out by the European Commission in November.
Charles Michel, the European Council President, on Thursday said the Council granted Georgia the European Union membership candidate status.
The European Commission on Wednesday issued the recommendation for the European Council to grant Georgia the European Union membership candidate status.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of the Prime Minister of Georgia, on Friday presented his Government composition to the Parliament bureau.
The Georgian Parliament on Friday published the Government’s new state programme titled For Building the European State, which highlights the main goals of the Government - maintaining “a stable and safe” environment for citizens, strengthening democratic institutions, stimulating the economy “more” and taking “effective steps” necessary for the country’s integration into the European Union.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday expressed the legislative body’s “readiness” to promote building of “bridges of cooperation” between the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood of the European Union.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's European Union Integration Committee, on Monday said the path towards the country’s European Union membership was “neither quick nor easy”.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the Georgian Prime Minister’s post, on Tuesday labelled President Salome Zourabichvili’s annual report to the Parliament as “underwhelming”, and claimed her address had “confirmed suspicions” about her intention to resign and establish a “pseudo-centrist political faction” ahead of October’s general elections.