EU’s decision on Georgia’s candidate status dependent on country’s progress – EU ambassador

Pawel Herczynski, the European Union ambassador to Georgia, on Tuesday expressed his hope the country would be granted the bloc’s membership candidate status by the end of this year, adding the positive decision would be dependent on the country’s progress. 

 

Speaking to the media in Georgia’s western city of Kutaisi, the diplomat said the EU 27 member states last year decided to grant Georgia a European perspective. 

 

“The process of implementing the 12 conditions [outlined by the bloc for granting Georgia the status]  is still ongoing. We will evaluate this process at the end of the year and the 27 states will decide on the next steps in December”, said the ambassador. 

 

“I hope it will be a positive decision, I hope Georgia will get the candidate status, but this is not the end of the road, so if it happens, it will be one more step, among many other steps. EU membership means stability, peace, prosperity, and a high standard of living. So, we are working in this direction, but it requires a national consensus, it requires the joint work of all political forces, in the spirit of compromise, inclusiveness and constructiveness,” Herczynski noted. 

 

According to a number of sources, the European Commission is ready to recommend the European Council to grant Georgia the status.