PM discusses Georgia's EU integration agenda with European Council President
Kobakhidze thanked the EU for its “firm support” to Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, while discussing the current situation in the occupied territories of Georgia with the European Council President, and stressed the need for rapid involvement of the bloc in the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict. Photo via Government Administration
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Georgia’s European Union integration process and its reform agenda along this path were discussed on Tuesday by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Charles Michel, the European Council President.
Kobakhidze noted his first official foreign visit to Brussels, after being approved as the Head of the Government on February 8, was “a demonstration” that EU integration was a priority for his Government.
At the meeting, the PM briefed Michel on the progress achieved by Georgia on the EU path and emphasised the “historical significance” of obtaining the bloc’s membership candidate status in December 2023, the Government Administration said.
Kobakhidze stressed that receiving the candidate status “created an unprecedented impetus” for the country on its path to the EU, and affirmed his Government's continued efforts to achieve further progress in this regard.
The importance of further support of the EU institutions was also highlighted by the Head of the Government, stressing that Georgia continued close cooperation with the bloc’s institutions and member states, and expressing hope for the EU’s “unwavering support” in the accession process.
Useful talks w/@eucopresident on close and fruitful partnership w/???????? institutions. Appreciate @CharlesMichel's support to ???????? as we progress on our ???????? accession path and prepare for the next important milestone - full membership of the ????????! ???????? deserves dignified place in ???????? family! pic.twitter.com/YkCR1cCqNb
— Irakli Kobakhidze (@PM_Kobakhidze) February 20, 2024
He also pointed out that the Government had developed a specific action plan, following the European Commission’s enlargement report in November 2023, and it was actively implementing the EU recommendations.
The PM thanked Michel for his support and personal involvement in the process of Georgia’s accession to the EU, while Michel congratulated Kobakhidze on his appointment as the PM, wishing him success in his work.
While referring to the political situation in Georgia, Kobakhidze stressed his Government would ensure conducting the upcoming parliamentary elections in a “free, fair and transparent” environment, adding that international observers, including OSCE-ODIHR, were already invited to observe the elections.
I congratulated PM @PM_Kobakhidze on his nomination as Prime Minister and on Georgia's progress in its European path after the historic #EUCO decision to grant Georgia candidate status.
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) February 20, 2024
Georgia has EU's full support for the next phase of work - the fulfilment of outstanding… pic.twitter.com/KgzA6SNSP5
Kobakhidze thanked the EU for its “firm support” to Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, while discussing the current situation in the occupied territories of Georgia with the European Council President, and stressed the need for rapid involvement of the bloc in the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict.
The sides also reviewed the security environment and challenges in the Black Sea region and the world, as well as the ways to overcome them.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Olivér Várhelyi, the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on Tuesday reviewed the process of the country’s accession to the EU.
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Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Tuesday said the eighth meeting of the Georgia-EU Association Council earlier today had once again welcomed the bloc’s decision to grant Georgia its membership candidate status and discussed the further steps to be taken by the country on its EU accession path.
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Robin Dunnigan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday said she was “very pleased” over Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s first official visit to Brussels this week and said she hoped to see the country as a member of the European Union in “years ahead”.
Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, Georgia's Ambassador to the European Union, on Wednesday highlighted Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s meeting with the European Parliament President Roberta Metsola as “very important”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday said “everything should be done” so that Georgia could “move to a new stage” on European integration - opening accession talks with the European Union by the end of the year.