On December 14, the European Council opened EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and granted EU candidate status to Georgia.
Georgia has been celebrating the granting of EU candidate status, with European Union flags flying in the streets and on different buildings in Tbilisi and countrywide.
A public celebration on this occasion was held in Freedom Square in Tbilisi on December 15th just before the official New Year lights were lit citywide, with speeches from the country’s prime minister and Ambassador of the EU to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski congratulating the country, followed by a live orchestral rendition of the Georgian and EU anthems, and several musical numbers from Georgian celebrities and choral groups.
The European Councils decision followed on from the European Commission’s recommendation to grant candidate status to Georgia on November 8.
Georgia officially applied for EU membership on March 3, 2022.
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