EU-Georgia Association Council: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell

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Prime minister [of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili], Commissioner [for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver Várhelyi], I am very pleased to host Prime Minister Garibashvili for this Association Council.

I am pleased because Georgia is one of our closest friends and partners. And this Council is a historic one - because it is the first one since the European leaders recognised Georgia’s European perspective, and outlined the steps needed for Georgia to get the [EU] candidate status.  

This is a clear proof of the European Union’s commitment to further strengthen our relations, responding to the European ambitions of Georgia. But these ambitions, as always, come with responsibilities. 

First, a responsibility to continue with important reforms, especially on the priorities – the 12 priorities - identified by the European Commission. 

Second, a responsibility to try to overcome polarisation, to build bridges across the political spectrum and to focus all collective efforts of the Georgian nation to reach the proclaimed objective to join the European Union, which is not only something that the government has to do, but the whole political spectrum and the whole society.  

Allow me to remind [you] that the European Union accession is a merit-based process. There are no shortcuts and no magic involved. It is not a matter of political declarations, but [of] political will that converts wills in results. 

Only visible and tangible progress in reforms can drive this process forward. 

The criteria and expectations are very clear when it comes to issues such as political culture based on inclusiveness, respect for the principles of democracy, the rule of law, the independence of judiciary, freedom of media, or alignment with the European Union’s standards and policies.  

Georgia has decided to embark on the European Union path and also to take on these responsibilities.  And now, [what] is relevant is to deliver. 

Allow me to stress also that the accession process needs to be accompanied by a national consensus, and the political forces have to find the way to work together. And, once again, it is not just a matter of the government but all political parties. 

That is why, we call the process an “inclusive process”, because it has to reflect the wish of the overwhelming majority of the population to link their future to the European Union.  

I want to stress the importance of the civil society.  

I want to stress that the European Union’s accession path brings tasks for all actors in the society. But the ruling party has, of course, the main responsibility there.  

It is not easy. It is not easy especially in the current geopolitical context, but you are not alone. The European Union – and all the European Union Institutions - are here to help and assist.  

Let me say a few words about the political dialogue, that today, in this Council, we have been holding together. It has been central to our discussions, it has been central today. It should [continue] being central tomorrow. 

We are friends and partners, and we can talk openly – in praising the work done, but also in pointing out where more efforts are still needed.  

I have shared our assessment on some key areas where Georgia’s performance recently has raised some concerns, such as the judiciary, the rule of law and media freedom, including increasing political pressure on independent oversight institutions and opposition media. 

These areas are crucial. [They] are crucial when it comes to European values and principles.  We count on Georgia’s efforts to address the existing shortcomings. Once again – the government first, the whole political spectrum after, and the whole civil society also. 

We have been reviewing the situation around the separatist breakaway regions - a very important issue for Georgia. 

We have stressed that the European Union stands firmly by Georgia and fully supports your territorial integrity. And that we will continue our efforts in this regard through our Special Representative for the region [Toivo Klaar] and our civilian [EU] Monitoring Mission [EUMM]. 

Prime Minister, we also had the opportunity to appreciate your efforts to contribute to the peace in the region.  

We also reiterated in the strongest possible terms our condemnation of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, and we will further discuss regional challenges over dinner now.  

The European Union is determined to support the resilience of our close partners in the Eastern neighbourhood. And in this regard, we will also work to strengthen Georgia’s resilience, especially in the area of cyber security and in the fight against disinformation. 

We know that Georgia has been seriously impacted by the new geopolitical situation.  

We are also discussing here today – and we will continue discussing - how we can help Georgia to overcome these challenges and continue with the reform process despite these new difficulties.  

Today’s meeting is a good proof of the unwavering support of the European Union to Georgia’s territorial integrity. And [it] has also showed that our relations have made a qualitative leap as Georgia is now firmly on the European path.  

I am looking very much forward to [seeing] Georgia advance on this path.  

We hope that all Georgia’s political forces will seize this historic opportunity and step up their efforts to obtain the [EU] candidate status and advance closer to the European Union. 

Thank you. 

Q&A 

Q. Prime Minister just mentioned that the government already is working to meet all the 12 priorities. Also, Mr Borrell, you just mentioned that one of the most [important] priorities is polarisation and [that] the process should be inclusive. So, without [the] engagement of the main opposition party, what do you think? Is it possible to fulfill this priority? What would be your advice to [the] opposition parties and also to the ruling party? 

As I said, the accession process is a national endeavour, led by the government, but in which everybody has to participate: the whole society - which has shown an overwhelming engagement with that - and all the political spectrum. When I am talking about “trying to avoid polarisation”, I am talking to all poles – polarisation is a multiplicity of poles. I am talking to the government, who has the main responsibility, but [also] to the whole political spectrum. I think that everybody has to understand that this is an inclusive process in which everybody has to participate. 

Q. More than two months have passed since we [Georgia] got the European perspective instead of [EU] candidate status. Now everything depends on how successfully Georgia implements the 12 recommendations prepared by the European Commission. Do you see our political parties – government and opposition – putting Georgia’s strategic interests above narrow political interests? Do you have such impression from the steps that [the] Georgian government and opposition are taking forward the polarisation? What can you say about this? 

I can only repeat what I already said. You can ask the same question thirty times and I will need to say the same answer. This is an inclusive process, and we call [on] all political parties to engage in this process in good faith and in a cooperative manner. One can have different approaches and certainly polarisation, as Commissioner Várhelyi has said, is not an exclusivity of Georgia. Polarisation is part of the political life, but as everything in life has to be in the right measure. Too much polarisation brings instability and jeopardises the progress. Too little polarisation means that the political life is not exactly a democratic one. So, we need a certain polarisation in order to show different approaches and different points of view – that is right, that is democracy – but this polarisation has not to reach a level which jeopardises the process and puts in danger the fulfilment of the objectives. I am not going to judge the internal political life of Georgia. But I have to call [on] all political parties to understand that this is a collective endeavour and [that] this is a historical moment that offers an opportunity. 

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-229436