Georgian ruling party seems unwilling for the country’s EU candidacy – MEP Kubilius

The ruling Georgian Dream party seems unwilling to allow the county to receive the European Union membership candidate status [next year], MEP Andrius Kubilius told Formula TV on Tuesday, claiming that the GD was likely to “hamper” Georgia’s EU international process. “It seems that the Georgian Dream’s goal is to intentionally destroy Georgia’s European integration chances”, said the MEP, painting at recent “attacks” of the GD officials to the US and the EU ambassadors, accusing the diplomats of backing the local opposition’s “destructive actions”. 

 

In remarks on the founder of the GD, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, the MEP suggested that the former “had influences over the Georgian Government” and that the EU- proposed de-oligarchization law, which is one of 12 conditions for Georgia to receive the EU candidate status, “meant Ivanishvili”. 

 

The MEP stressed that the letter of the Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili sent to the President of the European Commission earlier this month, “to clarify that the de-oligarchization note did not concern Ivanishvili”, “confirmed that Ivanishvili is running the country from the backstage.” 

 

Georgia received only European Perspective and not a candidate status by the European Council in mid-June and was given several months to meet 12 conditions for the status, with the mandatory criteria covering moves for de-polarisation, de-oligarchization, judiciary reforms and others.