The Parliament unanimously endorsed the draft resolution on Georgia’s integration in the European Union with 111 votes.
Before introducing the text of the proposed resolution, Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the EU Integration Committee, addressed her colleagues. Georgia’s accession to the European Union, she claims, is a strategic goal for the country, based on the will of the Georgian people and the Georgian Constitution. She noted that Georgia has created a solid platform for continued development on its path to EU integration during the last decade.
“Unfortunately, despite its ambitious content, despite the fact that the Association Agreement provides the greatest opportunity for EU integration of Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova, the Association Agreement does not provide for the possibility of joining the EU. I also note that joining the European Union is not a one-sided process,” Botchorishvili stated.
She pointed out that with Russia carrying out completely unjustified aggression against Ukraine, there is unanimous support from the European Union towards Ukraine, one of the manifestations of which is the possibility of granting Ukraine EU membership status.
“This political gesture by the European Union, in and of itself, creates a window of opportunity for Georgia to speed up the integration process. At the same time, it is apparent that the requirements of EU membership have not altered, and that all steps must be completed successfully. To succeed on the road to EU integration, Georgia needs the strong support of EU member states and institutions, and we must do all possible to gain that support,” Botchorishvili stated.
The Chair of the Committee presented a draft resolution to her colleagues, outlining the key messages that the country needs to join the European Union.
• The draft resolution emphasizes that since the day of the restoration of independence, EU integration has been the driving force of Georgia’s democratic development and economic transformation and a top foreign policy priority.
• The document calls on the Georgian executive to step up its efforts towards Georgia’s European integration and to implement the Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union, in order to properly prepare Georgia for EU membership.
• The resolution also calls on the EU to engage at a high level in strengthening Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as in promoting peace and stability in Georgia and the region, and to intensify efforts to fully monitor the implementation of the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement in order for the EUMM to gain access to the occupied territories of Georgia.
