On Monday, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced plans for a public celebration in connection with Georgia’s upcoming status as a candidate country for EU membership.

He mentioned that the celebration would mark the historic victory achieved through the joint efforts of Georgia, its people, and the government.

“I would like to inform our public that, at today’s Government meeting, we will approve the De-Oligarchization Action Plan defined and envisaged by the 12 priorities as their constituent part, and now, in line with these 9 steps, we assume responsibility over its approval. We will approve this plan at the Government meeting. At 3 PM, I will hold a meeting of the State Commission for EU Integration. Together with our Parliament, we reviewed these topics, and earlier had working meetings within the party and with MPs alike, discussing the so-called 9 steps that the Government should take. Today, we will discuss and approve-and we already have a preliminary outline-the action plan. And we have a concrete vision for each step to be taken or each reform. We will have the relevant action plans and timetables. Therefore, we will launch active work, which is in fact underway. Mister Darchiashvili will maintain communication with his European colleagues, and so will I have meetings and communication with our European colleagues, and we will provide them with this information. Our shared wish is to implement as soon as possible every reform envisaged under these 9 steps.

You know that, on December 14 or 15, we are expecting the final decision of the European Council on granting the status. In connection to this, we had a discussion within the team, also with the Parliament, and we have decided-depending on when the decision will be made, December 14 or 15, we will specify later, and probably it will happen on the 15th-to hold a nationwide celebration, let’s call it a celebration of victory, and a concert, so that together we may mark this historic victory of our country and our people-a result of the work of our Government, our authorities,” the Prime Minister said.