In Georgia, tens of thousands took part in a march in favour of the country’s EU membership candidacy, only days after the European Commission announced that Georgia would only be given candidate status after addressing certain priorities.
“Europe is a historical choice and an aspiration of Georgians, for which all generations have given sacrifices,” the rally organisers said on Facebook.
The Commission merely recommended a “European perspective” for Georgia, wheras both Ukraine and Moldova should be granted candidacy status. It should be noted EU member states still need to approve all of this. The topic will be discussed at the EU leaders summit in Brussels later this week.
The conditions set forward by the EU Commisson include ending political polarisation, progress on media freedom, judiciary and electoral reforms as well as “de-oligarchisation”, according to France24.
In a firm reaction to the announcement, German ECR MEP Lars Patrick Berg stated:
“To denying EU candidate status to Georgia, I consider a strategic political mistake by the EU, as well as a psychologically harmful signal to the local population. Georgia belongs to #Europe!”
#Georgien 🇬🇪 den Kandidatenstatus zu versagen, halte ich für einen strategischen politischen Fehler der 🇪🇺 und ein psychologisch fatales Zeichen an die örtliche Bevölkerung. 🇬🇪 gehört zu #Europa!
@GeoParl_EU
@GEOmissionEU
@MakaB__
@KarumidzeL pic.twitter.com/ZwcqfVMhL0— Lars Patrick Berg MdEP (@L_P_Berg) June 19, 2022
In a TV speech, Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili directly addressed her European counterparts, including German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, stating:
“From its own history, Germany knows that walls must not separate Europeans from one another. As one of Georgia’s oldest partners and friends, we count on you today to help Georgia on its path at this decisive moment.”
My address to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany
From its own history, Germany knows that walls must not separate Europeans from one another. As one of Georgia's oldest partners and friends, we count on you today to help Georgia on its path at this decisive moment. pic.twitter.com/nqqnH5X8Te
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) June 20, 2022
She also addressed her Polish counterpart, President Andrzej Duda, stating:
“Georgia and Poland share a tragic common past, a past of occupation, of being torn away from the European family. At this time, we count, as always, on the support, solidarity, brotherhood of Poland to support our path toward Europe.”
My address to President @AndrzejDuda.
Georgia and Poland share a tragic common past, a past of occupation, of being torn away from the European family. At this time, we count, as always, on the support, solidarity, brotherhood of Poland to support our path toward Europe. pic.twitter.com/06qYbtzPij
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) June 20, 2022
picture. flag of Georgia (Pixabay)