In a joint statement, about 170 non-governmental organizations appeal to the European Commission, despite the existing problems in Georgia, along with an objective assessment of the fulfillment of the 12 priorities, to recommend that the European Council grant Georgia the candidate status for EU membership in December 2023.
The statement reds that Georgian non-governmental organizations believe that receiving candidate status, apart from the fact that it will be an important step forward on the path of the European aspirations of the Georgian people, will help the Georgian people to better deal with Russian interests in Georgia.
“Georgia is waiting for the recommendation of the European Commission on the candidate status for EU membership. The signatory Georgian non-governmental organizations are united by a common mission – to protect and represent the interests of Georgian citizens, to protect and establish European democratic values.
It is our and Georgian citizens’ unwavering choice and vital interest for Georgia to become a member of the European Union, in which every citizen will live with dignity – in a peaceful, wealthy, free and fair state.
That’s why we asked the Georgian government to apply for EU membership. Since the recognition of the European perspective for Georgia, our efforts have been directed towards the implementation of the 12 recommendations by the Georgian authorities, which should have improved the situation of Georgian citizens. Today, we clearly see the difficulties associated with the implementation of the 12 recommendations, but at the same time, the European choice remains the main aspiration of society, which unites citizens in effective solidarity.
We have been fighting for a better democracy in Georgia, which the citizens of Georgia demand and deserve. In March 2023, we were able to unite Georgian society against the “Russian law”, which would have been a big wall between Georgia and the European Union. It was through these efforts that this law was overturned and it was possible to show everyone that the Georgian people are ready to protect the country’s European future in the future as well.
We, Georgian non-governmental organizations, believe that receiving the candidate status, besides being an important step forward on the path of the European aspirations of the Georgian people, will help the Georgian people better deal with Russian interests in Georgia, because more EU means less Russia.
We appeal to the loyal and strong European friends of our country and, specifically, the European Commission, despite the problems in Georgia, along with the objective assessment of the fulfillment of the 12 priorities, to recommend that the European Council grant Georgia the candidate status for EU membership in December 2023,” reads the statement.
