Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the Georgian Dream responded to the European Commission's recommendation to grant a “European perspective” to Georgia, with the official saying the decision would become the “basis” for receiving the EU membership candidate status “in the near future.”
According to him, European leaders have pointed out in advance that geographical location also prevented Georgia from receiving candidate status. Kobakhidze hopes that the geographical factor will no longer be a reason for delaying the granting of a candidate or member status to Georgia in the future.
"As European leaders have directly pointed out to us in advance, geographical location has also prevented Georgia from gaining candidate status. We would like to remind the public that due to the geographical factor, Georgia received the European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan 2 years later compared to Ukraine and Moldova. Also, Georgia started visa liberalization negotiations 4 years later compared to Ukraine and 2 years later compared to Moldova. Georgia received visa liberalization action plan 3 years later compared to Ukraine and 2 years later compared Moldova but got visa-free travel earlier compared to Ukraine. Similarly, Georgia started negotiations on an Association Agreement 3 years later compared to Ukraine, however, it signed an Association Agreement 1 year earlier than Ukraine. We hope that the geographical factor will not become a reason for delaying the granting of a candidate or member status to Georgia in the future," said Irakli Kobakhidze.
