Georgia’s official EU membership bid and the European Parliament’s unwavering support for Georgia were among the key topics discussed during today’s meeting Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and members of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defense of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

According to the Prime Minister, European Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi has handed over the questionnaire for EU membership to Georgia’s Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili in Luxemburg, a working group has been established, and the Government is mobilized to fill and send the questionnaire to Brussels as soon as possible. Importantly, the process of the Associated Trio’s accession to the EU enjoys unwavering support from EU institutions, the Head of Government added.

The meeting singled out the importance of cooperation under the EU’s Strategic Compass, with emphasis on Georgia as the EU’s reliable partner in the region and the EU-Georgia high-level strategic security dialogue as an effective platform, also underlining the importance of deeper Black Sea cooperation, including in terms of stronger transport and communications ties. The parties discussed the situation and security challenges in Georgia’s occupied territories. The Head of Government thanked the MEPs for supporting Georgia’s European integration, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, adding that Georgia remains committed to ensuring the peaceful resolution of all conflicts in its territory.

The parties also discussed the region’s security challenges arising from the military action in Ukraine. The Prime Minister emphasized that Georgia supports Ukraine in both political and humanitarian terms.

The meeting at the Government Administration was attended by Deputy Chair of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Security and Defense of the Committee on Foreign Affairs/Member of the European People's Party Lukas Mandl, Member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Juozas Olekas, Member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Elena Yoncheva, MEP/Member of the European Conservatives and Reformists Lars Patrick Berg, EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell, Head of the Office of Georgia’s National Security Council Givi Tumanishvili, and Head of the Government Administration Revaz Javelidze.