“Implementation of 12 recommendations depends on the entire Georgian society”

According to the EU Ambassador to Georgia Pavel Gerchinsky, the implementation of the 12 recommendations of the European Commission cannot be ensured by one actor and a general consensus is needed here. Gerchinsky stated this during a discussion about the European perspective of Georgia, with students of Tbilisi State University and young European ambassadors.

“The European Commission has published 12 recommendations that Georgia must comply with in order to obtain candidate status. Candidate status is another step towards European integration. These 12 priorities cover a range of issues that need to be addressed. It is quite obvious that these 12 priorities cannot be provided by one actor. The achievement of a consensus and the adoption of specific measures depend on the whole of Georgia, the entire Georgian society. This process should be initiated through a diverse public dialogue,” said the EU Ambassador.

Pavel Gerchinsky said that just a year or two ago, the provision of a European perspective, and Ukraine and Moldova, the status of a candidate was unthinkable, and he personally had to fight on different platforms for the support of the European integration of the Eastern Partnership countries. According to the diplomat, it was difficult to reach a consensus even on the issue of recognizing the European aspirations of the trio of countries (Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova) in the EU, but the war of Russia in Ukraine changed everything.

“All of us in Europe understand that this brutal war concerns not only Ukraine. This applies to all of us. It’s about the rules-based international order that we created after World War II. That is why our leaders made a bold decision in June that I called a miracle. As for the trinity – stick together! Especially if you are Georgia, which recently went through three wars with Russia. Stick together and take advantage of what you have. This is a unique opportunity for Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine,” the ambassador said.

According to him, geopolitics has always been an argument against the European future of Georgia, since the country does not have a land border with the European Union, but when Georgia receives a European perspective, this discussion is closed once and for all.