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• European Commission recommends to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and grant candidate status to Georgia

  The European Commission today adopted the 2023 Enlargement Package, recommending to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, and to grant candidate status to Georgia.

  

  In particular, the report focuses on the progress in the implementation of fundamental reforms, as well as on providing clear guidance on the reform priorities ahead. Accession is and will remain a merit-based process, fully dependent on the objective progress achieved by each country.

  In light of the results achieved by Ukraine and Moldova, and of the ongoing reform efforts, the Commission has recommended that the Council opens accession negotiations with both countries. Furthermore, the Commission recommends that the Council adopts the negotiating frameworks once Ukraine and Moldova have adopted certain key measures. The Commission stands ready to report to Council by March 2024 on the progress relating to these measures.

  In the case of Georgia, in light of the results achieved, the Commission recommends that the Council grants Georgia the status of a candidate country on the understanding that a number of steps are taken.

  Find out more

  Press release

  Key findings of the 2023 Report on Ukraine

  Key findings of the 2023 Report on Moldova

  Key findings of the 2023 Report on Georgia

• Prime Minister of Georgia Meets President of the European Council

  Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia met Charles Michel, President of the European Council today.

  The Head of Government of Georgia shared information with the President of the European Council about the implementation of 12 recommendations issued by the European Union (EU). According to him, Georgia has achieved progress in every direction and the Government did its best to meet the recommendations, thereby noting that progress continues further. At the meeting with Charles Michel, Irakli Garibashvili stated that all 4 topics identified by EU officials at the recent meeting in Tbilisi that are expected to advance by the end of September, will be addressed in line with the recommendations made by the European Commission. MP Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the Ruling Party held a media briefing about it today.

  The Prime Minister of Georgia highlighted that the country has leading positions on its quest to EU integration, as evidenced by the reports of the EU and that commitments assumed by the country towards reforms on its path to EU integration are solid. He also noted that Georgia deserves a status of an EU Candidate Country amidst the current geopolitical setting and in line with a merits-based approach. Irakli Garibashvili expressed his gratitude to Charles Michel for the support demonstrated in the process of EU integration of Georgia.

  Press Service of the Government Administration
• Irakli Garibashvili meets Charles Michel

  Within the scope of his visit to Brussels, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with Charles Michel, President of the European Council.

  The process of Georgia’s accession to the EU was the key topic discussed at the meeting. Irakli Garibashvili briefed the President of the European Council about Georgia’s efforts toward fulfilling the European Commission’s 12 priorities and pointed out that, in this process, the authorities maintain continuous consultations with EU institutions and member states, also the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR.

  The Prime Minister paid special attention to the importance of granting Georgia the EU membership candidate status at the end of this year.

  According to the Prime Minister, a large portion of the recommendations has been fulfilled and, based on the progress achieved, Georgia deserves the candidate status at the end of this year.

  Irakli Garibashvili emphasized that the Association Agreement, the DCFTA with the EU, visa-free travel, and the recently granted European perspective demonstrate Georgia’s progress toward European integration under the current Government.

  The parties discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine and its impact on the region’s security environment.

  Press Service of the Government Administration
• President of Georgia delivers her annual report in parliament

  “With the incomprehensible steps taken in recent years, the government is confronting the country’s foreign objective, the people’s mandate, by inviting Gavrilov, you raised doubts and questions for the first time,” said Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili when delivering her annual report in the parliament.

  According to Zourabichvili, the Georgian government gradually transformed.

  “Instead of strengthening state institutions, being the cornerstone of democracy, the one-party system and its influence get stronger. Laws adopted in an expedited manner (on covert recordings, abolishment of state inspector, changes in the rule for appointment of judges and foreign agents bill) serve your power’s prolongation instead of serving democracy strengthening and citizens’ welfare. The court reform, vital for the country’s future, is at a deadlock,” President said.

  Salome Zourabichvili went on to say that the ruling party members speak in unison, and those having different viewpoints, tend to quit the party.

  “The party influence is evident in the government and parliament. The party turned into a decision-making space. The party chairman announces his standpoint on all political issues in advance, and the decision-making process is vague, not to mention open discussions.

  You are the government confronting the country’s foreign goal, the people’s mandate. By inviting Gavrilov (Russian MP) in 2019, you raised doubts and questions for the first time, though the actual transformation began in 2021 when the Georgian Dream former Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili quit politics,” she said.

  President also recalled the annulling of the document drafted with the engagement of the European Council President and rejection of the EU loan.

  “You have never stopped the anti-European rhetoric, blaming and insulting our partners. All this finally came to the extent that we expelled the former EU ambassador from the country with reprimands and accusations,” Zourabichvili stated.

  Source: https://1tv.ge/lang/en/news/president-delivers-her-annual-report-in-parliament/

• WHO, EU and US donate ambulances to Ukraine to cover health needs during the war

  The WHO Country Office in Ukraine, with support from the European Union and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has donated an additional 33 ambulances to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to enable the provision of emergency medical care to patients during the war. The handover of ambulances took place in Lviv, western Ukraine, on 27 March.

  The donation includes 20 ambulances equipped with a stretcher and first aid equipment. They are intended for the non-critical transportation of patients. Another 13 ambulances, equipped with patient ventilators, oxygen supply, IV pumps, suction pumps, stretchers, medication bags, will allow for the transportation of seriously injured patients to health facilities.

  The ambulances will be handed over to hospitals and emergency centres throughout the country, with a particular focus on eastern Ukraine.

  “It is one of our top priorities to support the Ukrainian healthcare system, which has come under extreme pressure since the start of the war,” said Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management. “We are working with partners like WHO to ensure that medical professionals have the means and equipment to reach people in urgent need of medical assistance. These ambulances will save lives across the country, including in hard-to-reach areas.”

  Find out more

  Press release