Georgia needs to accelerate implementation of reforms to fulfil EU priorities - bloc’s High Representative

Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Tuesday said Georgia had to accelerate the implementation of reforms, including those of the Association Agreement, to meet the nine steps outlined by the bloc to open accession talks with the country.

Being a candidate country requires a new level of effort, and also increases the responsibilities of the Government, the [domestic] opposition, of everybody. The civil society, all parties. Every Georgian has to be engaged in the reform process”, Borrell noted at the press briefing after the meeting of the Association Council in Brussels.

“For that [to implement EU recommendations] you have the asset of a vibrant civil society and it is important to have everybody on board. This requires to take decisive steps to decrease political tensions [in the country]”, the EU official added.

He welcomed Georgia’s “strategic choices” towards EU membership and noted the increase in alignment with the bloc’s foreign and security policy decisions, adding “we expect a significant increase in this alignment in the coming years”.

The EU High Representative also encouraged the Government “to redouble efforts” to fight “anti-Western disinformation and rhetoric” in Georgia.