Gov’t has “confirmed firm will” to fulfil EU obligations - Georgian PM

The Government head added his office continued to work with its European colleagues to deliver “tangible results” in the process of connectivity and welcomed the “close cooperation reflected in this context”. Photo: Government Administration

Agenda.ge, 20 Feb 2024 - 19:10, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday said his Government had “confirmed firm will” to fulfil its obligations with the European Union and move forward on its European integration path.

Kobakhidze said the eighth meeting of the Association Council between the bloc and Georgia in Brussels was an “important cornerstone” of the partnership and emphasised the “historic” event of the country being granted the bloc’s membership candidate status in December.

He said the commitment within which Georgia was set to join the EU had a “great importance”, and added the meeting had discussed the progress the country had achieved in the association process - which he called the result of “great efforts”.

The PM noted his Government was implementing an action plan for fulfilling the priorities set out by the European Commission in November and wanted to maintain “close coordination” with the colleagues in the Commission and other agencies in order to implement the “common agenda” while moving to the next stage of accession to the bloc.

Kobakhidze said his office’s “closest objective” was to start negotiations on accession and obtain full access to the single market, in order to “achieve a full and free trade space”, and noted by implementing “key reforms”, Georgia had demonstrated a “very significant and rapid” post-pandemic recovery and “significant” progress.

He added “successful reforms” implemented in the country increased its resilience, which he said was “very important” for its integration into the EU.

We are a reliable ally and partner in the region. There are significant challenges, and we are trying to achieve stability, peace and democratic progress in the context of cooperation”, the PM said.

The Government head added his office continued to work with its European colleagues to deliver “tangible results” in the process of connectivity and welcomed the “close cooperation reflected in this context”.

Kobakhidze emphasised the importance of the bloc’s peacekeeping in the resolution of conflicts on the territory of Georgia, and added peace would enable “more stability and progress” in the country and the wider region, leading to a “general well-being of Europe”.