Ruling party says Georgia’s EU integration will boost its people’s ‘security and de-occupation’
Georgia’s ruling party has announced plans to “immediately” apply to join the European Union after the bloc’s parliament backed Ukraine’s bid for membership amid Russia’s invasion.
On Wednesday, Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream, told reporters that his party’s decision was “based on the overall political context and the new reality”.
“We call on the EU bodies to make an emergency assessment of our application and grant Georgia the status of an EU candidate country,”
he said. Moreover, On Thursday, the application will be handed over.
Georgia’s EU integration would put the country “on a path which will lead our country to a qualitative increase in our population’s wellbeing, security, and to de-occupation”, he added.
The decision marks a U-turn by Kobachidze. On Tuesday, he had insisted that Georgia would not submit such an application until 2024 because “a hasty initiative could be counterproductive.”
But the ruling party came under intense pressure from opposition parties after a similar move by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who won overwhelming backing from European legislators in a non-binding resolution recommending the bloc’s bodies grant Ukraine the status of candidate country.
The MEP’s vote on Ukraine was primarily seen in Georgia as a window of opportunity to advance its EU aspirations – a goal enshrined in its constitution.
The Russian invasion over Ukraine has strengthened the West’s focus on Georgia and Moldova, another former Soviet republic seeking EU membership
Some observers view these countries as possible targets for the Kremlin after Ukraine.
Last week, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili was in Paris and Brussels to argue that Europe’s commitments to Ukraine were extended to Georgia.
Although, despite being granted candidate status, Georgia and Ukraine will face a protracted and complex elevation process. They would have to impose comprehensive reforms to observe the 27-nation bloc’s political and economic standards.
Georgia’s and Ukraine’s efforts to have closer ties with the West have long angered Russia.
Tensions with Moscow culminated in Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008.
Both Georgia and Ukraine have signed association agreements with the EU designed to bring them closer together economically and politically.
The agreements also include free trade deals between the countries and the EU and visa-free travel for its nationals for a short stay in the Schengen area.
But they give no assurance of eventual membership.
Edited By: Kiran Maharana
Published By: Shramana Sengupta
