Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has reaffirmed Georgia's committment to the process of European integration, despite recent developments following the Brexit referendum vote in the United Kingdom. "Europe is my vision; Georgia in Europe is our citizens' mission", Kvirikashvili said. Speaking to some four hundred participants from the EU and the region at a conference in Batumi, the Georgian leader said now is not a time for Europe to turn inward.
The EU should use Georgia's enthusiasm for EU membership as an example of all that is good about the European project. Europe is our past, and it is also our future, the Georgian Prime Minister added.
The Georgian Premier said that sometimes people forget what is unique about the EU, and how it has become an example of good regional co-operation for many parts of the world. Georgia is serious and determined when it says it wants full EU membership, the Georgian leader said.
Kvirikashvili said Georgia is making steady progress in the implementation of the recently signed Association Agreement with the EU, citing important reforms in the legal and judiciary sectors that have been recently introduced.
Earlier opening the conference, with the title "Georgia's European Way", Georgia's State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, David Bakradze, said that Georgia had now passed the period of democratic transition and had entered a period of democratic consolidation".
Among those participating in the conference is the EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement negotiations, Johannes Hahn.
source: commonspace.eu
photo: Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili addressing the conference "Georgia's European Way" in batumi on 14 July 2016. Picture courtesy of gov.ge
