Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday said the European Commission's recent enlargement report “reaffirmed Georgia as integral part of European Union enlargement policy along with other candidate countries”, claiming “talks of halting the EU integration process in relations to Georgia was unfounded”.
Botchorishvili claimed the report had “provided a positive assessment of Georgia's legislative and institutional alignment with EU standards” and highlighted “progress” in sectors such as education, public financial management, transport, energy, statistics, social policy, employment, labour rights, entrepreneurship, industrial policy, and the strategy for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.
“The report also positively evaluates Georgia's fulfilment of obligations under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area,[adopted in 2014] including food safety, customs control, public procurement, free movement of goods, services, and capital, as well as competition policy” the official added.
She also emphasised the report highlighted the country's cooperation with the EU to “prevent Georgia’s territory and legal entities registered within it from being used to circumvent EU sanctions imposed on Russia” amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“Although there are critical assessments in certain areas, which is not uncommon in the EU integration process, Georgia shows no regression in indicators of overall readiness. On the contrary, despite challenges the Georgian government has faced this year, the progress documented in the report is truly welcome and commendable,” the official added.
Commenting on recommendations included in the report that applies to 35 different fields, the Committee Chair said “we will thoroughly study each recommendation, conduct an in-depth analysis, and consider them to the fullest extent” in the further implementation of the EU Association Action Plan adopted in 2014.
“Considering the progress made and existing experience, the Georgian government has the ambition to fulfil over 90 percent of its EU Association Agreement obligations by 2028, reaching the highest level of EU alignment and laying a solid foundation for Georgia to be the most prepared among candidate countries for EU membership by 2030”, she noted.
Botchorishvili further claimed that Georgia had “become a leading country in the region, driven by successful reforms under the Georgian Dream administration over the past decade as confirmed by various independent international organisations and rankings”.
“Based on the trust placed by the Georgian people on October 26 [in parliamentary election] and the strong mandate secured, we can boldly say today that the GD government will continue to fight for the development of the country and to lead it toward a dignified European future”, the official stressed.
Botchorishvili also highlighted the need for a “dialogue format” in the spirit of ensuring Georgia’s path toward the EU remains unobstructed and expressed hope of “carrying on with Georgia's EU integration process in the near future through cooperation”.