Representatives of non-governmental organizations welcome the government’s decision to apply for the European Union candidate status at an accelerated pace.

NGO members spoke about the importance of reforms at the briefing held on Thursday. They called on the government to uphold its commitments under Charles Michel’s agreement.

“This is an essential step for Georgia on the great path of European integration. We would also like to underscore that this is just the beginning of a difficult path. The whole country, the government and the opposition should follow it together.

Firstly, the government should return to its commitment under the Charles Michel Agreement. Also, the government’s relations with Ukraine needs to be urgently improved,” stated Keti Khutsishvili, Director of the Open Society Georgia Foundation.

NGO representatives believe that Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili should be the face of the country in EU integration process. They initiate to set up a specific structure within the government to assist the President in carrying out this function. “We all understand that President Zourabichvili is the most acceptable figure from the Georgian government to Europe,” they added.