Albanian, Montenegrin parliament officials highlight Georgia’s progress on EU integration path
Krrashi noted that the six Balkan countries, represented at the conference, were supporting Georgia to become a member of the EU. Photo: Parliament of Montenegro
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Lavdrim Krrashi, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Albanian Parliament, on Monday said Georgia “in some aspects” was “much ahead” compared with other European Union membership candidate countries.
The visiting official made the remark at an interparliamentary conference between Georgia and the Western Balkan countries on European integration, hosted on Monday by the Georgian legislative body.
Krrashi noted that the six Balkan countries, represented at the conference, were supporting Georgia to become a member of the EU.
Ivan Vuković, the Chair of the European integration committee of the Parliament of Montenegro, also highlighted Georgia’s progress on its European Union integration path.
In comments at the event, he also said while the EU “may not be the promised land”, the bloc was still a “serious, reliable partner that can help our countries become better and make the society happier”.
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”.
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.
The activities carried out by the Georgian Government on the European Union integration path, as well as the use of new opportunities for joining the bloc, serve “the main ambitious goal” to achieve “significant progress” in becoming a member of the EU, the Government’s new state programme says.
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 position of the Prime Minister of Georgia, on Tuesday said the ruling Georgian Dream party was “ready” to “single-handedly” meet the nine priorities outlined by the European Union for opening accession talks with the country.
Ilia Darchiashvili, the candidate for the position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, on Wednesday told the Parliament receiving the European Union membership candidate status in December has been a “great and well-deserved” victory for the country.
The bilateral cooperation between Georgia and Albania, as well as the importance of intensifying political dialogue and exchanging high-level visits, was reviewed on Saturday in a meeting between Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and his Albanian counterpart Igli Hasani.