Borrell asks Georgia to overcome political polarization and take steps to get closer to the EU

BRUSSELS, Sep. 6 (EUROPE PRESS) –

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, has called on Georgia to overcome political polarization and advance the priorities set by the European Commission to take steps in the European reform agenda, on which the granting of status depends. of a candidate country to access the bloc.

At a press conference with the Georgian Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, after the EU-Georgia Association Council, the head of community diplomacy insisted that the ambition to join the EU goes hand in hand with the responsibility to overcome polarization politics, after the divisions between parties have marked the political news in Georgia in recent years.

“We must build bridges across the political spectrum and focus Georgia’s collective efforts to achieve the declared goal of joining the EU,” said the head of community diplomacy. “I am talking about all poles, about the Government, which has more responsibility, but about the entire political spectrum, this is an inclusive process in which everyone must participate,” he added about the European integration process.

However, Borrell has indicated that on the European path “there are no magic methods” or “shortcuts” and has emphasized that “only tangible progress can advance the process”, after referring to the 12 priorities identified by Brussels to achieve progress in priority areas such as the independence of the media, the reform of the judiciary or the improvement of the rule of law.

In any case, he celebrated that relations between the EU and Georgia have taken a “qualitative leap” and now the Caucasian country is on the European path. “I hope that all political forces take advantage of this historic opportunity and make every effort,” he reiterated.

Garibashvili, for his part, has committed himself to the European reform agenda, stating that the goals set in Georgia’s European perspective represent a “turning point” for the country. “Yes, Georgia is fully committed to the implementation of the priorities,” he has indicated.

The Georgian leader has defended that after the decision of the leaders of the Twenty-seven last June, his Executive got to work on a European roadmap with deadlines and launched a process with members of the opposition, the Government and civil society. “Unfortunately, some radical parties did not participate in this process,” he stressed.

SUPPORT THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF GEORGIA

This Association Council with Georgia comes at the height of the war in Ukraine, a context in which the EU is committed to helping its neighboring partners, such as Georgia, with a Russian military presence in the breakaway regions of Ossetia South and Abkhazia.

In this context, Garibashvili recalled that 20 percent of Georgian territory is occupied by Russian forces and has insisted on the need to resolve this conflict that began in 2008.

Borrell has insisted that the EU is on Georgia’s side and supports its territorial integrity, underlining the help provided by the bloc through the civilian mission and the special envoy.

“We are going to work to strengthen the capacity to resist disinformation and cybersecurity,” he explained, after acknowledging that the country is “seriously impacted” by the geopolitical situation in Eastern Europe.