Prime Minister Gharibashvili Addresses Letters to Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, December 14, 2023
The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, has addressed letters to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.
In the letter addressed to Ursula von der Leyen, Gharibashvili expressed gratitude for the recent recommendation to grant Georgia candidate status by the European Commission and highlighted the strong partnership between the EU and Georgia, attributing the recommendation to this partnership and the overwhelming support of the Georgian population.
The Prime Minister emphasized Georgia's progress on the EU accession path, citing achievements such as the Association Agreement, DCFTA, visa-free travel, security partnership, enhanced trade relations, and cooperation in various sectors.
Irakli Gharibashvili affirmed the Georgian government's commitment to continuing and accelerating necessary reforms in preparation for EU membership, expressing determination to deepen cooperation with the European Commission.
"We were delighted that the Georgia2023 Report published by the European Commission within the Enlargement Package recognizes the tireless efforts of the Georgian government to honor its commitments and progressively align with the EU rules and standards. There is no doubt that EU membership comes with long-term commitments and responsibilities. My government remains resolute in continuing and further accelerating necessary reforms. We reaffirm our determination to deepen the cooperation with the European Commission and take steps to advance on the EU accession path," the letter reads.
In the letter addressed to Charles Michel, Gharibashvili expressed gratitude for the EU's unwavering support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and acknowledged the EU's valuable contribution to the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict.
The Prime Minister wrote that granting candidate status would be an impetus for lasting peace in Georgia. According to the letter, he expects strong engagement from the EU and its member states to ensure the peaceful reintegration of occupied regions and the reconciliation of divided communities.
"Granting candidate status also will serve as an additional impetus for establishing lasting peace in Georgia. Let me express appreciation to the EU for its unwavering support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, as well as its valuable contribution and support to the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict. We believe that strong engagement of the EU and its member states will be critical to ensure that Georgia's occupied regions will be peacefully re-integrated and divided communities will be reconciled," the letter reads.
Gharibashvili stated that the future of Georgia lies in the EU and emphasized that there is no alternative. He expressed the hope that EU member states would make a strategic and forward-looking decision to firmly anchor Georgia as a future EU member state.
"The future of Georgia lies in the EU, and there is no alternative to it. Our nation and my government expect that EU member states will take strategic and a forward-looking decision this week that will firmly anchor Georgia - a future EU member state - with the family of European democracies," wrote the Prime Minister.
