In a joint statement on November 2, some 170 Georgian NGOs urged the European Commission to recommend to the European Council that Georgia be granted EU candidate status.

"We urge you to recommend to the European Council to grant Georgia the status of a candidate country for EU membership in December 2023, despite the ongoing challenges that Georgia needs to address," the statement said. The civil society organisations stressed in a statement that their common goal is to promote and instil European democratic values in Georgia and to protect and defend the interests of Georgian citizens. In addition, they claimed that joining the European Union is the unwavering choice and paramount interest of an overwhelming majority of citizens.

"More EU presence means less Russian influence in Georgia," the statement stressed. According to the NGOs, Georgia will move closer to the EU if it is granted candidate status, but it will also be an important means of reducing Russia's influence in Georgia.

Georgian Dream's response

Irakli Kobakhidze, the leader of the ruling Georgian Dream, noted: "Unlike the NGOs that lobbied against candidate status, our government officials lobbied for candidate status. That is the key difference. The message 'Give us the status despite everything' means exactly 'Don't give us the status'. Kobakhidze also reiterated his accusations against foreign sources of funding "extremism, polarisation and revolutions" in Georgia. 
Shalva Papuashvili, the speaker of parliament, stressed: "As I can see, some of the non-governmental organisations have not signed the declaration. It is a fact that some of the elite civil society organisations prepared the statement, and even the tone of this statement shows how they are misbehaving. And now everyone is trying to take credit for the victory of the Georgian people."