Georgia Should be Granted Candidate Status for EU Membership, Says Ambassador Pawel Herczynski
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, June 8, 2023
The Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, has expressed his personal opinion that Georgia should be granted the status of a candidate for European Union membership by the end of the year.
According to Herczynski, Georgia is currently at a crucial moment in its path towards European integration. He emphasized the significance of fostering intensive dialogue between Georgia and the 27 member states of the European Union to ensure a favorable decision regarding Georgia's application for EU membership. The EU Ambassador said that he welcomes and supports the relations between Georgian political leaders and their counterparts from EU member states, as well as the visits of high-level EU politicians to Georgia.
Herczynski stated that the European Commission is in the process of preparing the first enlargement report for Georgia, which is scheduled for publication in October. This report will provide recommendations for Georgia's progress towards EU membership. At the end of the year, the leaders of the 27 EU member states, including presidents and prime ministers, will convene to determine the next steps in relation to Georgia's application.
Despite Ambassador Herczynski expressing his belief that Georgia should receive candidate status, he highlighted the importance of making significant progress on the 12 priorities outlined by the EU during the remaining time until the end of the year.
"We all know that this is a key moment for Georgia. Georgia is at the crossroads of European integration. That is why it is extremely important that the dialogue between Georgia and the 27 member states of the European Union is as intensive as possible. That is why we clearly welcome and support the relations of political leaders of Georgia with 27 member states and the visits of high-level politicians of EU member states to Georgia.
This is very important, the dialogue is as intensive as possible to ensure that the 27 member states make the right decision at the end of the year, when Georgia has to take a step forward to join the European Union. As far as you know, the European Commission is preparing a report, the first enlargement report for Georgia. This report will be published in October, which will include recommendations.
Then the leaders of the 27 member states of the European Union, at the highest level, the presidents and prime ministers of the 27 countries, will meet at the end of the year and decide what further steps should be taken in relation to Georgia's application for joining the European Union.
In my personal position, Georgia should get the candidate status, but it is extremely important to use the remaining time until the end of the year to achieve maximum progress in relation to the 12 priorities, and it is also very important that good news comes from Georgia," stated Herczynski.
