Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee in the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday claimed the recent visit of the European Union High Representative, Josep Borrell, to the country earlier this month was an expression of “support”, and “not finger-wagging as the opposition wants to describe it”. 

She claimed one of the key messages by Borrell was an encouragement to all domestic stakeholders to work together for the country’s European integration, adding the part of the opposition “seemed more motivated” to hamper Georgia’s EU intentions considering their “narrow political interests”. 

“Georgia needs nothing today but to stop using the issue of candidate status as a tool of political struggle.If you overcome this false temptation in yourself and act according to the interests of the country, there will be no threat to the status of Georgia," she claimed. 

The lawmaker also stressed the European Union’s decision later this year on whether to grant Georgia its membership candidate status would be “political” and dependent on the approach of all EU members. 

Botchorishvili highlighted Georgia “deserved” candidate status last year and in the case of a ‘merit-based” approach the country would obtain it in December.