Candidate for FM tells MPs Gov’t “ready, mobilised” to make “further” progress towards EU membership
In his comments at a session of a committee in the Georgian legislative body, Darchiashvili noted the Government was “ready and mobilised” to make “further” progress towards the bloc’s membership. Photo: MFA of Georgia
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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.
In his comments at a session of a committee in the Georgian legislative body, Darchiashvili noted the Government was “ready and mobilised” to make “further” progress towards the bloc’s membership.
Our next goal is to start accession talks. Efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be directed towards the maximum use of the opportunities received as a candidate, as Georgia has moved into the EU enlargement package, and at this stage, work is underway to update and strengthen the institutional mechanism of bilateral cooperation between Georgia and the European Union”, Darchiashvili told MPs.
The official stressed the Government had “new ambitious plans” for integration - in particular, for increasing the connectivity between Georgia and the bloc on the Black Sea as an “indispensable priority”, including through implementation of strategic projects provided for by the Eastern Partnership economic and investment plan.
Darchiashvili also focused on the progress in NATO integration by saying that the country had “tangible” results in the process.
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.
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.
Paweł Herczyński, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Monday said Georgia had an “advantage” over countries of the Western Balkans in the process of its integration into the bloc.
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”.
Ilia Darchiashvili, the candidate for the post of the Foreign Minister of Georgia, on Wednesday told lawmakers his office would send invitations for both short- and long-term observers from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe to observe the general elections in October this month.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of the Prime Minister of Georgia, on Wednesday said the Government’s “main priority” was the country’s full integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, as outlined in the Georgian constitution.