Georgian PM on two-day trip to Brussels; met EU leaders

The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, on a two-day trip to Brussels, held a meeting with European Council President Charles Michel and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

PM Garibashvili and President Michel had a detailed discussion on the forthcoming steps of Georgia’s EU membership bid, as well as the country’s past reforms and the implementation of the Association Agreement, the Georgian PM’s office said.

The two officials touched upon the security environment in the region amid Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the occupied Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

After the meeting, President Michel mentioned in a tweet that, “The EU is committed to further strengthening our partnership with Georgia.”

He, however, added that, “reforms on democratization process and the rule of law are needed more than ever.”

On May 17, PM Garibashvili and European Parliament President Metsola went over Georgia’s prospects to receive the status of an EU membership candidate, the Georgian PM’s office said.

During the meeting, the Georgian PM highlighted the significance of the European Parliament’s support for Georgia’s EU integration as the nation awaits the decision to become a membership candidate.

After the meeting, the European parliament speaker mentioned in a tweet that “reforms in the judiciary, the rule of law, media freedom, LGBTIQ+ and human rights remain important for the country’s European path.”

President Metsola said, “Georgia belongs to the European family.”

As part of the trip to Brussels, the Georgian PM is likely to meet European Commission President Ursula von de Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

The visit follows the submission of the second, final part of Georgia’s response to the EU membership questionnaire on May 10.