Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi: Push Ahead with Reforms
Following the 7th meeting of the EU-Georgia Association Council on September 6, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi, and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili held a joint press conference in which the Commissioner underscored that “the moment is now to push ahead with reforms, not to lose time or energy on internal divisions but to work together.”
The EU-Georgia Association Council is a joint body established to supervise the implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement. The meeting was the first since European states recognized Georgia’s European perspective on June 23 and outlined the reforms it needs to undertake in order to receive EU candidate status. It was chaired by the High Representative, while the PM represented Georgia, and Commissioner Várhelyi attended.
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Commissioner Várhelyi remarked that the recognition of Georgia’s European perspective “is a major opportunity [and] a major development…”
He underscored that “the priorities are clear.” “We had an open frank discussion about them and that is how we can anchor the solid cooperation that we have built over the years based on the Association Agreement to make this European perspective reality,” he said.
“The progress of Georgia to the EU will of course require time and very serious efforts by all, [but] we are ready to mobilize all of our available assistance to support you on this,” the Commissioner denoted and underlined the “importance to all parties and civil society to rally on this goal.”
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
