EPP supports granting EU candidate status to Georgia

The chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, David McAllister [Group of the European People’s Party, Christian Democrats], says that the Foreign Affairs Committee is discussing with the European Commission its assessment of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia’s application for EU membership.

 

“EPP Group believes that granting candidate status at a time when the security of the entire region is at stake is an important political signal,” McAllister wrote.

 

Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova are waiting for the European Commission to assess their accession bid in the near future.

 

Following the recommendation of the European Commission, the decision on the status of a candidate for membership is taken by the Council and the date for the start of accession negotiations is set.

 

The European People’s Party (EPP) is the largest political group in Europe.

 

Its partner parties in Georgia are the United National Movement and European Georgia.

 

The EPP congress was held in Rotterdam on May 31, attended by UNM members, and a symbolic chair was also provided for imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.

 

Prior to the congress, the European People’s Party issued a statement, saying that Georgia’s “informal, oligarchic rule had undermined good governance and dismantled democratic institutions.”

 

The Georgian Dream authorities have criticized the EPP several times and claimed that it was against Georgia’s candidate status.

 

Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova applied for EU membership shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

 

The trio have already submitted a self-assessment questionnaire.