Meeting with the Chief Foreign Policy Advisor of the President of the European Council

On December 11, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili met with Simon Mordue, the Chief Foreign Policy Advisor of the President of the European Council. The main issue of discussions was the enlargement agenda and the European Council’s expected decision in this regard, the Press Office of the Georgian Foreign Ministry reported.

The minister provided the Foreign Policy Advisor with comprehensive information about the successful agenda of the reforms implemented by Georgia, including the action plan for implementing the European Commission's recommendations.

It was highlighted that the country deserves to be granted the candidate status, and this is confirmed by the European Commission's relevant recommendation of November 8. The sides expressed the hope that the European Council would decide and Georgia would move to the next stage of EU integration. Discussions also focused on the "Eastern Partnership" format and its further development. The sides expressed the hope that this issue would be reviewed within the scope of the ministerial meeting based on the interests and aspirations of the participating countries. The sides also exchanged views on the current situation in the occupied regions of Georgia. The Georgian side thanked the European Union for its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, for its involvement in the process of peaceful settlement of the conflict, and for its contribution to ensuring security on the ground.

Ilia Darchiashvili, within the framework of the visit, also held a conversation with Gert Jan Koopman, the Director General of the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations.

The sides positively evaluated the ongoing intensive consultations between the Georgian authorities and the European Commission. They took stock of the progress in implementing the European Commission's recommendations. In this light, a special mention was made of the action plan adopted on November 27 by the Governmental Commission for the Integration of Georgia into the European Union. The sides once again positively assessed the European Commission's recommendation to grant candidate status to Georgia. They expressed the hope that the European Council will decide on granting a candidate status to Georgia this week.

Meeting with the European Commissioner Neighborhood for Enlargement

On the same day, Ilia Darchiashvili met with Olivér Várhelyi, the European Commissioner Neighborhood for Enlargement. The sides discussed the steps taken by Georgia on the path of EU integration and the reforms implemented in this regard, both at the legislative and institutional levels. Discussions also focused on the European Commission's enlargement report and recommendations outlined for Georgia by the decision of November 8, 2023.

Ilia Darchiashvili informed the European Commissioner about the action plan approved by the Government of Georgia to fulfill the nine recommendations of the European Commission. It was highlighted that Georgia is ready to cooperate closely with the EU in terms of fulfilling the aforesaid tasks.

In addition, the minister emphasized that the country is waiting for the European Council’s decision to grant Georgia a candidate status.

The sides also talked about the Eastern Partnership ministerial meeting. The prospects of cooperation in this format and the future development of the EaP, in general, were discussed. The sides focused on other important issues of Georgia-EU cooperation, including sectoral integration and progress in this direction.

Eastern Partnership Ministerial Meeting

Georgia's Minister of Foreign Affairs participated in the Eastern Partnership Ministerial Meeting held in Brussels.

The EaP meeting was attended by EU and EaP Foreign Ministers; the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell; the European Commissioner Neighborhood for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi; and by representatives of the European External Action Service and the European Commission.

The meeting participants discussed the results achieved within the scope of the Eastern Partnership, including the existing cooperation and the possibilities of its future development. Special attention was paid to the challenges facing the EaP region. The sides put a particular emphasis on the implementation of the flagship projects developed within the framework of the economic and investment plan and emphasized the importance of increasing connectivity. The participants of the ministerial meeting supported the signing of the regional roaming agreement.

At the ministerial meeting, the EU representatives emphasized the prospect of Georgia, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova joining the European Union and the recommendations contained in the European Commission's enlargement report of November 8. The European Union and its member states once again expressed their support for granting candidate status to Georgia.

Minister Ilia Darchiashvili welcomed the European Commission's positive recommendation to grant candidate status to Georgia, which clearly recognizes the very intensive work done by Georgia and the results achieved in this regard. He expressed the hope that the EU leaders will support the European Commission's recommendation and make another strategic decision on December 15 based on the country's individual merits and progress, which will pave the way for Georgia to start negotiations on joining the European Union.

The minister put a special accent on the economic and investment plan developed within the format and on the economic and political importance of Georgia's flagship projects, which will bring tangible benefits to the country's population and prepare the country for EU membership. The minister also focused on the importance of fully exploiting the Black Sea potential and future plans for the development of infrastructure connecting the European Union and Georgia.

Josep Borrell: "Georgia advancing towards EU membership"

Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs, highlighted the good news of Georgia advancing towards European Union membership. Borrell noted the Georgian Government was doing well in implementing the conditions set out by the European Commission for granting the country the bloc's membership candidate status.

"Georgia is doing well. Until now, all the analyses of the proposals from the European Commission have been positive, and I encourage Georgia to continue on this path. The good news is that Georgia is advancing towards European Union membership," he said.