Borrell stresses “no shortcut” to accomplish EU candidacy reforms, slams anti-Western propaganda in Tbilisi visit

Borrell stresses “no shortcut” to accomplish EU candidacy reforms, slams anti-Western propaganda in Tbilisi visit

Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative, on Friday reminded the Georgian Government it had nine of 12 conditions outlined by the bloc last year for granting Georgia its membership candidate status unfulfilled, called for joint efforts among political actors to gain the status, and condemned the claims by Government officials on the West’s alleged attempts to “drag” Georgia into the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict as “fake” that “no one would think” in the bloc. 

 

“You still have time [until December[ to fulfill candidacy conditions. First of all, depolarization, de-oligarchization, political, economic, social, judicial system, electoral reforms, media pluralism and human rights should be done. There is no shortcut to accomplishing this, it all requires a lot of hard work, political will and a clear commitment to EU values”, Borrell said, adding the reforms would promote to the welfare of the country’s citizens, not only to Georgia’s EU aspirations. 

 

The EU official highlighted the current authorities “must ensure” a “proper environment” to depolarise the existing “tense political scene”, adding Georgia itself should resolve the problem and the bloc would not get involved in solving the issue. 

 

Borrell stressed the ruling party’s announcement earlier this month to impeach the President for her unauthorized EU trip could further strengthen political polarization in the country. 

 

In his comments the EU official also condemned Georgia’s consent to resume direct flights with Russia, and added that applicant countries should act in accordance with the bloc’s policies' ', which he said in the current circumstances  meant isolating Russia for invading Ukraine last year. 

 

Borrell noted Georgia;s compatibility with the EU’s efforts to have a joint approach on priority issues “was not very high”, and the direction required to be improved. 

 

He also condemned the claims that the EU could “abandon” Georgia and added “this will not happen”, but emphasized the bloc’s “merit-based” approach. 

 

The visiting officials also emphasized the Government's “good work” in combating Russia’s evasion of sanctions for invading Ukraine. 





Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative, on Friday reminded the Georgian Government it had nine of 12 conditions outlined by the bloc last year for granting Georgia its membership candidate status unfulfilled, called for joint efforts among political actors to gain the status, and condemned the claims by Government officials on the West’s alleged attempts to “drag” Georgia into the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict as “fake” that “no one would think” in the bloc. 

 

“You still have time [until December[ to fulfill candidacy conditions. First of all, depolarization, de-oligarchization, political, economic, social, judicial system, electoral reforms, media pluralism and human rights should be done. There is no shortcut to accomplishing this, it all requires a lot of hard work, political will and a clear commitment to EU values”, Borrell said, adding the reforms would promote to the welfare of the country’s citizens, not only to Georgia’s EU aspirations. 

 

The EU official highlighted the current authorities “must ensure” a “proper environment” to depolarise the existing “tense political scene”, adding Georgia itself should resolve the problem and the bloc would not get involved in solving the issue. 

 

Borrell stressed the ruling party’s announcement earlier this month to impeach the President for her unauthorized EU trip could further strengthen political polarization in the country. 

 

In his comments the EU official also condemned Georgia’s consent to resume direct flights with Russia, and added that applicant countries should act in accordance with the bloc’s policies' ', which he said in the current circumstances  meant isolating Russia for invading Ukraine last year. 

 

Borrell noted Georgia;s compatibility with the EU’s efforts to have a joint approach on priority issues “was not very high”, and the direction required to be improved. 

 

He also condemned the claims that the EU could “abandon” Georgia and added “this will not happen”, but emphasized the bloc’s “merit-based” approach. 

 

The visiting officials also emphasized the Government's “good work” in combating Russia’s evasion of sanctions for invading Ukraine.