Help us so that we can help you to get EU candidate status in December – this is the message of US Senator Jeanne Shaheen to the government of Georgia.
Jeanne Shaheen told Voice of America that the government of Georgia can achieve progress in the implementation of reforms by conducting an inclusive process with opposition parties and civil society.
“I understand that the Georgian people, who overwhelmingly support EU membership, were disappointed that Ukraine and Moldova were granted EU candidate status, but not Georgia. Georgia has made great progress in implementing critical reforms to advance its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, but there remain some areas that require progress. I am sure that the government of Georgia can achieve progress in the implementation of these reforms by conducting an inclusive process with the opposition parties and civil society,” said Shaheen.
Senator Shaheen pointed out the need to implement the EU’s recommendations and said that it will not be easy, but implementing the reforms is “the best chance to ensure an economically prosperous and democratic future for the Georgian people.”
Senator Shaheen urged the government to lead an inclusive process.
She noted that in the United States “there is broad bipartisan support for Georgia, its sovereignty and territorial integrity, especially in light of Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine.”
“The Georgian people feel vulnerable, and I know there is support in the United States to do everything we can to help the Georgian government move forward with inclusive reform efforts. Our message is: Help us so that we can help you to get EU candidate status in December,” Shaheen told VOA after the NATO summit in Madrid, where she met with the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, along with a delegation of American legislators.
