In the fall, it’s going to be time for a very thorough assessment of where Georgia stands. Such a statement made today Katarína Mathernová, Deputy Director General of the Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission, at the Regional Ambassadorial in Tbilisi.

“The ball very much is in the court of Georgia, Georgian Government, but also very much Georgian civil society, Parliament, the civic engagement that we are witnessing in Georgia, which is so incredibly important.

You asked about the candidate status. I’m not going to crystal ball. If the decision was made today, it’s very difficult to judge, but there are clearly still steps that need to be taken out of the 12 steps that have been clearly outlined by us.

But what is really important to remember, Georgia received the European perspective. That’s the step that was taken last June. And that means that for the first time this year, Georgia, along with Ukraine and Moldova, will be included in the enlargement package.

So there will be a very thorough, detailed assessment of all of the countries with the European perspective. And so it’s going to be time for a very thorough assessment of where Georgia stands and I very much hope that between now and the fall, there will be enough ammunition to go for a candidate status”, - said Katarína Mathernová.