Shortly after taking office as Georgia’s new Head of Government, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze traveled to Brussels this week to speak with top European Union officials regarding Georgia’s ongoing effort to deepen ties to Europe and achieve EU membership.
In a series of meetings, Prime Minister Kobakhidze touted Georgia’s steadfast commitment to successfully implementing a robust reform agenda and to launching official EU accession talks. In a meeting with European Council President Charles Michel, whose personal involvement and support were crucial to Georgia achieving its historic EU candidate status last year, Kobakhidze noted that candidate status “created an unprecedented impetus” for the country as it continued on its path to full EU membership. On social media, Michel proclaimed that Georgia has the EU’s “full support” for the next phase of work.
While in Brussels, Prime Minister Kobakhidze also met with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, in what the PM called a “very friendly meeting.” Metsola echoed other European leaders in stressing that the European Parliament “fully supports the European aspirations of the people of Georgia.”
Highlighting Georgia’s commitment to broader Euro-Atlantic cooperation, US Ambassador to Georgia Robin Dunnigan noted she was “very pleased” with the Prime Minister’s visit, expressing her hopes that the nation will become a member of the EU in the “years ahead.”