Georgian PM discusses country’s EU integration prospects with Belgian counterpart

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday met with Alexander De Croo, his Belgian counterpart, and discussed Tbilisi’s European Union integration prospects ahead of the bloc’s forthcoming decision later this year whether to grant Georgia its membership candidate status, the government administration said. 

 

Gariabashvili told the Belgian official all 12 conditions outlined by the European Commission last year for granting Georgia the status would be fulfilled by the end of this month, the press office added. 

 

The officials also reviewed bilateral ties. 

 

The meeting came on the sidelines of the presentation of Europalia-Georgia international arts festival’s programme. 

 

This year, the festival is dedicated to Georgia, offering a unique opportunity to showcase the country’s European history, identity, and culture in the political heart of Europe, the government administration said. 

 

The PM said Europalia-Georgia had acquired a “special meaning in light of the country’s anticipating the candidate status at the end of this year”.