Parliament Committee Chair: Georgia has “proven itself as reliable partner” for EU

Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday told the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs the country had “proven itself as a reliable partner” of the European Union by contributing to its Common Security and Defence Policy.

In her address to the Conference, Botchorishvili said European security “has to be the number one strategic concern for all politicians” given “Russia’s aggressive policies and geopolitical challenges”.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the EU's biggest enlargement, which widened the space of peace and stability in Europe. We have always been focusing on the transformative power of the EU and its enlargement policy, but it has a much bigger importance and role today. Enlargement is the key strategic geopolitical topic related to the future of the EU, and we have to do everything possible for the success of this policy”, she said.

The lawmaker also told the event Georgia had achieved “undeniable and significant” progress in advancing “key structural reforms” throughout the last decade in its process of association with the EU, and noted the country was “focused on fulfilling” the nine conditions set out by the European Commission in November for opening accession talks.

The official said the Georgian Government was “committed to continuing positive dynamics” of aligning with European foreign and security policy “despite obvious risks and immense security challenges” it faced due to the ongoing Russian occupation of the country’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions.

We all need effective mechanisms for integration and the removal of existing barriers, where possible, to accelerate the process of economic and political integration of candidate countries into the European Union as soon as possible”, she added.

Botchorishvili stressed all candidate countries should be provided with “similar possibilities” while acknowledging individual approach was necessary, and noted accession negotiations should be launched with “all candidate countries without any delay”.