The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, stressed on Wednesday 18 May the importance of cross-party cooperation and unity among national political forces in Georgia.
This is “essential for achieving concrete and rapid progress on the reform priorities essential for strengthening democracy in Georgia”, he said.
In his meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Mr Borrell explained that the EU was ready to accompany Georgia in these efforts, in particular to address domestic political polarisation, to put in place an inclusive and credible judicial reform programme and to implement the constitutional reforms agreed in this regard. “This is all the more important as Georgia is a candidate for EU membership”, Borrell said, stressing that reform of the judicial system was the cornerstone of all reforms. The Commission could deliver its opinion on Tbilisi’s application in the first half of June.
Borrell also recalled the EU’s support for building Georgia’s resilience in the context of the war in Ukraine and reaffirmed the EU’s firm commitment to Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)