Georgia: Citizens prepare for demonstrations in support of their country’s EU membership

Georgians are preparing to take to the streets en masse today to support their country’s EU membership, as the European Commission has proposed that it not yet be granted candidate status.

Many organizations called for a “march for Europe” to be held tonight in Tbilisi to “demonstrate the commitment of the Georgian people to their European choice and Western values.”

“Europe is a historic choice and an ambition for Georgians, for whom all generations have made sacrifices,” the organizers said in a statement.

“Freedom, peace, sustainable economic development, the protection of human rights and justice are values ​​that unite us all and which will be guaranteed by EU membership,” they added.

The demonstration is aimed at sending a message to Brussels, as European leaders are expected to discuss this week whether to accept the formal candidacy of Ukraine and Moldova.

Although the Commission recommended on Friday that Ukraine and Moldova be given candidate status, it said that Georgia would have to carry out reforms, mainly political ones, before it could receive the status.

“It is up to Georgia to accelerate (the reforms) and move towards this open door,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The ruling Georgian Dream party said it was “pleased” to have received “a specific roadmap”, but regretted that the Commission had not already endorsed Georgia’s candidate status.

The Georgian government has come under increasing criticism in recent years over the human rights situation, with NGOs mainly expressing concern about the decline in freedom of expression.

SOURCE: AMPE