Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Monday described the European Council’s forthcoming decision on Tbilisi’s candidacy this week as “vitally important” for the country’s transition to a new phase on its EU path and opening of accession talks, ahead of the ministerial meeting of the bloc’s Eastern Partnership initiative in Brussels. 

Speaking for the media, the official highlighted Tbilisi’s “genuine interest” in active engagement in the format in the future, launched in 2009 with Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine, and claimed the platform provided the mechanisms necessary to “fortify and expedite our European integration."

"Connectivity has consistently stood out as a primary component. Beyond political association and integration into the European family and the EU, a number of projects, such as the Black Sea submarine power cable project and various transport initiatives, aim to physically bring us closer to the European community”, Darchiashvili said. 

He claimed EaP was expected to serve as a platform to discuss “essential and vital projects for integration”. 

The Minister also outlined the strides taken by the Georgian Government towards European Union integration and claimed the country's reform efforts were not in question among partners. 

He added the stance provided the Georgian authorities with “renewed strength and momentum” to continue reforms for the country’s further integration into the EU.