EU hopes Georgia's progress toward European perspective to move forward quickly, Ambassador Herczynski says

12:13, 14.09.2023

“The speech of the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen was a very important, visionary way forward, especially for the European Union itself. The President of the commission focused on necessary internal reforms within the European Union in order to be well-prepared for the upcoming enlargement,” Pawel Herczynski, EU Ambassador to Georgia, stated on Thursday.

Herczynski stated that everyone in the European Union hopes that Georgia’s progress toward the European perspective will move forward quickly.

“President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen very clearly stated the facts. When it comes to Georgia, Georgia has been granted a European Perspective, very historic decision taken in June last year by 27 EU leaders, and she also very clearly stated the overwhelming support of the Georgian population for European integration.

The State of the Union speech of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen was a very important, visionary way forward, especially for the European Union itself. The President of the commission focused on necessary internal reforms within the European Union in order to be well-prepared for the upcoming enlargement. And when it comes to the countries that are aspiring to join the European Union, she basically stated the facts. As you all know. Ukraine, Moldova and several countries from the Western Balkans already have candidate status. Georgia for the moment has a European Perspective and we all hope that this process will move forward very speedily. And we are all awaiting the enlargement reports next month and the decision of EU 27 leaders in December,” he said.

Pawel Herczynski mentioned that he views President Ursula von der Leyen’s statement as stating the facts.

“I read the statement very clearly as stating the facts. And the facts today are very clear. Ukraine, Moldova, and several countries from the Western Balkans already have candidate status. Georgia, for the moment, has a European perspective. The vast majority of the population supports European integration. There will be an enlargement report published by the Commission, which means that the President of the Commission will take full responsibility for this report. We expect this report to be published precisely one month from now, and then 27 leaders will meet, discuss, and decide behind closed doors. Please don’t force me to speculate. I can express my best wishes for Georgia, but in the end, the decision will be in the hands of 27 member states. But again, there is still some time left, four weeks till the publication of the report and three months to the final decision of the leaders. What we expect Georgia to do is really to increase the speed and provide as much progress as possible on the 12 priorities,” he added.

Regarding High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell’s visit to Georgia, Herczynski stated that “EU’s High Representative said loud and clear: Please, help us so that we can help you”.

“So I’m keeping my fingers crossed, and I hope for the best. There is still time. High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell said loud and clear, “Please, help us so that we can help you.” We are waiting for further progress. We are waiting for the deliverables. The final decision will be in the hands of 27 EU member states at the highest political level, at the level of European Union presidents and prime ministers,” he declared.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen affirmed the importance of the EU perspective for Georgia in her address to the European Parliament. “The future of Ukraine is in our Union. The future of the Western Balkans is in our Union. The future of Moldova is in our Union. And I know how important the EU perspective is for so many people in Georgia,” she remarked.

By - Svetlana Alimova, Tamar Tabatadze

Politics

Pawel Herczynski