On November 14, Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, held a Business Lunch with Pawel Herczynski, the EU Mission Director, and the Ambassadors of EU Member States, the Press Office of the Georgian government reported.

A meeting was held at the diplomats' initiative. It was related to the recommendation issued by the European Commission for the status of an EU Candidate Country to be granted by the European Council to Georgia. 

Ambassadors congratulated the Head of Government of Georgia on the positive recommendation of the European Commission.

The Prime Minister of Georgia highlighted the historic importance of the referred recommendation and expressed gratitude to the diplomatic corps for the demonstrated support. The meeting summarized the successful reforms the Government of Georgia implemented and the progress the country achieved on its path of European integration.

The Prime Minister of Georgia noted, "Joint efforts of the ruling team have led to the implementation of almost all the recommendations in a short period defined by the European Commission, thereby confirming the readiness of the Government to continue an active process of reforms." The head of the Government of Georgia expressed hopes that the country will get the status of the EU Candidate Country in December, as recommended by the European Commission. He stressed the support of EU Member States in this process. He noted that Georgian authorities will continue having a constant dialogue and close coordination with European colleagues.

Ambassador of European Union to Georgia assesses Georgia's chances to be granted candidate status

On November 12, in an exclusive interview, Paweł Herczyński shared his views with Radio Liberty.

The ambassador acknowledged the significant influence of the resounding and steadfast backing of the great majority of Georgians. He stated that the continuous popular support for EU membership was crucial to the evaluation, even in the face of obstacles like false information, conspiracy theories, and foreign propaganda. He also acknowledged the significance of Georgia's well-prepared and very professional administration, which includes specialists in several line ministries. Herczynski pointed out that the showing of progress was made possible by their committed efforts, demonstrated by their thorough answers to questionnaires and collaboration with specialists from the European Commission.

In response to the question of how much Georgia was recommended favorably by geopolitical and merit criteria, Ambassador Herczyński emphasized two crucial aspects. First, he stated that geopolitics was unquestionably responsible for the European Union's openness and eagerness to expand. He added that Russia's baseless, unprovoked, and extremely brutal invasion of Ukraine" had a profound impact on the EU's readiness to welcome new members, including Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. The Ambassador emphasized that the EC's recommendation to give Georgia candidate status is based only on merit. He claimed that the Enlargement Report does not consider geopolitical factors but rather focuses on a merit-based analysis, detailing both achievements and areas where further reforms are needed. He noted that the report meticulously outlines the progress made through reforms and comprehensively assesses what has been achieved.

In response to a question on Georgia's need to abide by EU sanctions against Russia, particularly as it approaches the next phase of its membership, the ambassador said that doing so is crucial. He noted that although member nations also suffer economically from the sanctions, its execution has been fueled by a shared conviction to hold Russia responsible for its actions in Ukraine. He claimed, "To apply pressure on Russia with the support of as many foreign friends as possible, this endeavor involves collaboration with like-minded partners, such as the US and the UK, as well as within the G7."

When asked what chances and hazards there would be in the five weeks leading up to the Council of the European Union meeting, the ambassador said, "We have five weeks. Every day matters, and I genuinely hope that Georgia will continue to advance so that no member state is hesitant or doubtful about accepting the European Commission's favorable proposal. It is my earnest desire that we shall commemorate Georgia's candidature status on December 15." He stated that the report is a merit-based assessment and that the European Commission's recently released report took several months to complete. While praising accomplishments, the ambassador points out that the report's main objective is to pinpoint areas where further development is required.