Vakhtang Makharoblishvili, Georgia’s ambassador to the EU, highlighted on Tuesday the significance of Irakli Kobakhidze’s, the newly appointed Prime Minister, first foreign trip being held in Brussels, saying the visit will mark the first EU-Georgia Association Council session since Tbilisi obtaining EU candidacy late last year. 

It’s the 8th EU-Georgia Association Council, but the first council since Georgia obtained EU candidacy in December, the diplomat said  and noted the initial topic of the discussion would be the country's pace on its EU path. He also pledged the visit would be “extremely interesting” and “full of content."  The exchange was expected to discuss Georgia’s steps towards accession to the EU, what measures it should take, and the state of implementation of the nine priorities outlined by the bloc last year for opening accession talks with Tbilisi. The meeting will also focus on the Russia-Georgia conflict, especially the issues regarding human rights, the ambassador added and stresses the EU could play a positive role in the peaceful settlement of the conflict. 

Makharoblishvili said the PM would hold meetings with Charles Michel, president of the European Council; Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement; Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management; and Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament.