Georgia Deserves EU Candidate Status More than Ukraine and Moldova, Says Garibashvili

Georgia was more deserving of EU candidate status than Ukraine and Moldova, said the country's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday, as reported by TASS.

“Of course, I do not envy anyone's success; on the contrary, I am glad for the Ukrainians and Moldovans. However, Georgia was deserving of more. If any of these three countries has been deserving, it was us. Friends, we all understand that today the situation in the world is different, and many complex processes are unfolding globally. We must calmly accept this and continue the development and strengthening of our country,” stated Garibashvili.

The European Parliament approved a resolution on Thursday supporting granting EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. Additionally, European Council President Charles Michel expressed confidence that the upcoming EU summit will grant candidate status to these countries.

Georgia has been part of the Eastern Partnership program since 2009, aimed at developing cooperation between the EU and former Soviet republics. In 2014, the country signed an association agreement with the EU, which includes provisions for deep and comprehensive trade relations. In 2017, Georgian citizens were granted the right to travel to Schengen Area countries without a visa.