We do not expect any other decision than EU candidacy – PM at CoE summit

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday said his government expected the European Union’s positive decision on the country’s membership candidate status by the end of this year, in his messages at the fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe in Reykjavik.  

 

“This is our choice, and it is unchanging-it is the choice of our population, our people. Consequently, my message will be once again that our country must receive the well-deserved status, because it will be a message from Europe to our population, our people, our country. And we do not expect any other decision”, Garibashvili said. 

 

He added, however, “we must work hard of course, to convince our European friends that there simply is no alternative”.

 

“If our European friends, our European partners really want to put an end to the polarization in the country, and to ensure peace and stability, and for the country to continue its path toward Europe, then of course I expect us to have the candidate status at the end of this year. This is my answer,” he added. 

 

Garibashvili is scheduled to deliver his speech at the summit that brings together 46 member states of the Council of Europe. The summit is scheduled to end later on Wednesday.