The plenary meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for EU Affairs of the Parliaments of the European Union [COSAC] is underway in Brussels, Belgium. Maka Botchorishvili, the Chairperson of the European Integration Committee of Georgian Parliament, participates in the meeting.

“Today, Georgia, together with Western Balkan countries, Ukraine and Moldova, is the EU candidate country. We have achieved undeniable, significant progress in advancing key structural reforms throughout last decade, in the process of association with the EU. Georgia proved to be a reliable partner for the EU, by not just benefiting from its Common Security and Defense policy but also by contributing to it.

Currently, we are focused on addressing 9 steps defined by the European Union, and we are committed to continuing the positive dynamics of aligning with the EU’s Foreign and security policy despite obvious risks and immense security challenges we are facing due to the continuous Russian occupation of Georgian regions. An individual approach is necessary, but possibilities for all candidate countries should be similar. Accession negotiations should be launched with all candidate countries without any delay. We all need effective mechanisms for integration and the removal of existing barriers, where possible, to accelerate the process of economic and political integration of candidate countries into the European Union as soon as possible”, - said Maka Botchorishvili.