No question marks over Georgia’s European future – parliament speaker

Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday said that there were “no question marks” over the country’s European future, in his speech at the Clingendael Institute in the Netherlands. 

“Georgia has already received a European perspective on the path of EU integration, and there is no longer any question about its European future, which many generations dreamed of and for which many generations fought. Georgia firmly belongs to Europe”, he said. 

Speaking about the European perspective of Georgia, Papuashvili focused on the current processes in the region, the changes caused in the political, economic, social, climate and military direction.

He said despite these changes, “Georgia manages and maintains its foreign-political priorities”. 

“We have to live in a changing world. Changes cause political, economic, social, climate and military difficulties. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the renewed military confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan and other challenges are clear examples of this. Europe’s security architecture has come under great pressure.In the conditions of the mentioned changes and turbulence, Georgia manages and maintains its foreign-political priorities”, said Papuashvili.

The speaker said granting the European Union membership candidate status to Georgia “will be an incentive for other countries of the region and at the same time, it will protect the region from Russia’s geopolitical efforts”.