Pawel Herczynski, the EU Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday said the bloc “especially expected” the country’s progress on deoligarchisation, reform of the judiciary and media freedom before its December decision whether to grant Tbilisi its candidate status. In his press comments, the diplomat highlighted four weeks were left before the release of the expansion report by the European Commision and three months before the European Council’s decision on the status, urging all stakeholders to work for “maximum progress” in the remaining period. 

“What we expect from Georgia is to speed up and achieve as much progress as possible”, he said, noting the country had “obvious progress” in several recommendations that were marked “partially” fulfilled in the European Commission’s June oral report. 

He also noted the announced impeachment procedures against President Salome Zourabichvili by the ruling Georgian Dream party for her visits in Europe without the Government's consent this month would not help the country to become “strong and stable”. 

Irakli Kobakhidze, the ruling party head, on Thursday claimed the country would be “ready” to obtain the status this year, pledging to inform the public over the implementation of the outlined reform agenda in the coming days. 

Meanwhile, the Government of Georgia has approved a deoligarchisation action plan earlier today, claiming it offered a “general approach” as recommended by the Venice Commission earlier this year and was “in line” with the EU requirements.