EU Ambassador: bloc’s door has “never been so wide open” for aspiring countries

In his remarks, the diplomat noted that Georgia, as well as other countries of the region involved in the bloc’s enlargement, could use the experience of the Western Balkan countries from the latter’s long integration process. Photo: EU Delegation to Georgia

Agenda.ge, 05 Feb 2024 - 15:43, Tbilisi,Georgia

Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Monday said the door of the European Union had “never been so wide open”, adding it was up to each aspiring member country to “make the most of this opportunity to move forward”.

In his remarks, the diplomat noted that Georgia, as well as other countries of the region involved in the bloc’s enlargement, could use the experience of the Western Balkan countries from the latter’s long integration process.

“As the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, mentioned in her speech about the 2023 enlargement package, enlargement is a vital policy for the European Union”, Herczynski said.

I am very glad that the Parliament of Georgia is leading this process and is ready to rely on the experience of other countries that are currently going through the same process. For example, the Western Balkans, which started this process much earlier, show that EU enlargement is still relevant”, he added.

“Georgia, as well as other countries of the region involved in the enlargement process, can really learn [from] and use the experience of the Western Balkans”, he continued.

The EU diplomat also stressed the “complete public consensus” in Georgia that the country should become a member of the EU.