Robert Habeck, Federal Minister of Economy and Climate Protection of Germany, and Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, shared their views on Georgia’s application for EU membership.
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BERLIN — German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck has backed Russia’s Caucasian neighbor Georgia’s candidacy for EU membership, saying the country is “very welcome” in the bloc.
Georgia, a former Soviet state on Russia’s southwestern border, has applied for EU membership March 3, 2022one week after Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine.
Since then, the European Council has stated that it is prepared to grant the country candidate country status after carrying out a series of parliamentary, legislative and economic reforms.
But Habeck, who as Germany’s economy minister is a key voice in EU policy, went further on Monday, saying: “Europe may be very open to you.”
“I do know that your country leans very much towards Europe and you might be very, very welcome,” Habeck said at the opening ceremony of the ITB Berlin conference.
Georgia is certainly one of many countries in the region that has accelerated its bid for EU membership in the wake of the Russian invasion. Ukraine and neighboring Moldova applied for EU membership in February and March 2022, respectively, and were granted candidate status in June.
The offer of Tbilisi, nonetheless, is especially noteworthy, taking into consideration the offer of this country earlier invasion by Russia in 2008which led to a five-day war with a whole lot of dead and wounded and tens of hundreds of displaced people.
Today, Russia still occupies 20% of Georgia’s internationally recognized territory, and Russian President Vladimir Putin still sees the country as an integral a part of Moscow’s sphere of influence in the South Caucasus.
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“Georgia also suffered from Russia’s aggression in the Caucasian War,” Habeck said.
Russia’s aggression against Georgia [in] The yr 2008 could have been a turning point when Putin turned from a politician and reformer of his country right into a tyrant,” he said.
Russia’s foreign ministry didn’t immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
Habeck spoke with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who said his government and the Georgian people were “doing every part of their power” to develop into a full member of the EU.
“Georgia’s proposal has been recognized by the Council of the European Union and we’re even closer to our chosen civilization than ever before,” Garibashvili said.
“The present efforts of each Georgian are aimed toward the day when Georgia will finally secure its place on the map of Europe,” he added.