Speaker Papuashvili welcomes platform of candidate countries as opportunity to share both positive and negative experiences in EU integration process

“I am happy that such a conference is being held, and a platform of Parliament Chairs of EU candidate countries will be established to review how we view the platform’s work,” said Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.

According to the Speaker, candidate countries will say their word on the EU integration process and accompanying challenges.

“This is an important initiative. I communicated with the Chairman of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, who introduced the idea. We welcome the establishment of a platform for the speakers of the parliaments of candidate countries, where we can share experiences, both positive and negative, regarding the European integration process.

I am happy that such a conference is being held, and that a platform of Parliament Chairs of EU candidate countries will be established to review how we view the platform’s work both on the level of parliamentary chairs and sectoral committees.

Hearing from colleagues is interesting. One thing is obvious: the EU integration process is not a one-sided road, and candidate countries should not be perceived as objects of integration. We are coparticipants and co-creators of the European future. I believe the candidate countries will have their word to say regarding the process and the challenges that accompany the process. At different times, I had the opportunity to speak with parliamentary chairs of the candidate countries, inquiring about the obstacles they face in the integration process. We will discuss it and adopt a joint declaration. We will have intensive cooperation within this forum,” he said.

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili participates in the first (founding) conference of Parliament Chairs from EU candidate countries organized at the initiative of Parliament Speakers of Serbia and Ukraine.