Georgia’s freedom “threatened both inside, out”, vital to show EU’s solidarity – MEP Viola von Cramon

MEP Viola von Cramon on Friday extended her kind wishes for Georgia’s Independence Day and said the country’s freedom had been “threatened both inside and out”, highlighting the need for the European Union’s solidarity with the Georgian people amid the challenges. 

 

“As a long-standed friend of Georgia, I fully support their path to join the EU”, the MEP tweeted. 

 

Tbilisi submitted its formal application for the bloc’s membership in March 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, along with the latter and Moldova. 

 

In June last year the European Council granted Ukraine and Moldova the bloc’s membership candidate status with conditions, while Georgia obtained a European perspective and a reform agenda to gain the status later. 

 

Tbilisi called the move “not merit-based” and expressed hopes the Council would not make a “political decision” later this year and grant the “deserved status” to the country. 

 

The domestic opposition has claimed the EU’s decision in June came because of the current government’s “pro-Russian stance”, which they said contradicted the “strong will of Georgians” to join the EU and NATO.