Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said Georgia as a “leader” of the European Union’s Associated Trio, “should not have to plead for” the bloc’s candidacy, when two members in the Trio, Ukraine and Moldova, were granted the status last year. 

In his comments Papuashvili once again slammed the European Council for granting Georgia only a European Perspective last year, unlike Ukraine and Moldova, and said granting the EU candidacy to Georgia later this year would be the “only fair decision”. 

He noted if the membership negotiations would be opened for Ukraine and Moldova, Georgia should also be offered the opportunity, adding the domestic authorities were communicating with the bloc on the implementation of the 12-point conditions outlined by the European Commission last year for granting the status to Georgia. 

The Commission said in its June oral report Georgia had fully fulfilled only three of 12 conditions, partially met seven, had limited progress on one and no progress on the remaining one on media pluralism. 

The European Council has been scheduled to decide on Georgia’s status in December, following the Commission’s report on Georgia’s meeting the conditions in October.