Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Friday highlighted Tbilisi’s obtaining the bloc’s candidate status last month was not the final step, but marked "only the beginning of the challenging journey that Georgia must undertake for EU membership."

The diplomat expressed optimism for the "prompt initiation" of accession talks between Georgia and the EU, underscoring that the pace of transition depended on Tbilisi fulfilling the nine conditions outlined by the European Commission in November, in its recommendation to the European Council to grant Georgia candidacy. 

The conditions encompass efforts to combat disinformation, align foreign and security policies with the EU, implement reforms in judiciary, electoral, and human rights areas, and address issues of deoligarchisation and depolarisation. 

Herczynski anticipated an “accelerated, inclusive, and constructive” approach to meeting these conditions, following the European Council’s decision last month to grant Georgia the bloc's candidate status.