“EU candidate status will further strengthen the young democracy of Georgia and will give an impetus to other countries in the region on democratic transformation path,” said Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili while addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee in the National Assembly, the lower house of the bicameral French Parliament.

Shalva Papuashvili noted that European integration had ushered Georgia’s foreign policy for decades. Georgia was granted European Perspective and was given 12 recommendations, which the Georgian government “fulfils successfully” in cooperation with the non-governmental organizations, partner countries, Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR.

Georgia submitted its first EU enlargement package on April 19, 2023, providing information on progress in labour regulations, financial services, public procurements, consumer rights, the rule of law, social policy, freedom of media and other spheres.

“We hope that Georgia’s progress will be assessed adequately and the following decisions be merit-based. Georgia mustn’t be differentiated from other partners of the Associated Trio. The report published by the European Commission in January of 2023 confirms Georgia’s legislative and institutional draw closer to the EU. The document reads that Georgia is the leader among the Associated Trio countries, and it deserved candidate status even last year.

However, we closed that chapter of history, and now, as a future-oriented state, we are paving the way for the future with diligence and hope. As a result, the Georgian people and the government expect Georgia to be granted candidate status this year. Also, we expect that negotiations on Georgia’s EU accession will start together with Ukraine and Moldova,” he said.

The Speaker also underscored that it was the “best time” for Western partners to help Georgia deal with security challenges and for the European Union to “focus on lasting peace.”