Ruling party MP: “No alternative” to granting Georgia EU candidate status

Brussels: Gia Tsagareishvili, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Sunday said there was “no alternative” to granting the European Union membership candidate status to Georgia.

In his comments to the Imedi TV channel, Tsagareishvili noted “Georgia needs the EU and the bloc needs Georgia as a strategic ally”, adding the country’s “expectations” on obtaining the status would be “fully met”.

He emphasised the ruling team had “positive expectations” regarding the EU candidacy, stressing “those people” who claimed Georgia would not be granted the status would be “disappointed”.

The [domestic] opposition dedicated one year to somehow hinder [the process of] granting the candidate status [to Georgia], to hamper the country on the path of European integration, and for that they have done everything indicent”, Tsagareishvili added.

Georgia’s progress in implementing the EU recommendations, outlined for obtaining the bloc’s candidate status, will be assessed by the European Commission next week.