THE HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF GRANTING GEORGIA THE EU CANDIDATE STATUS HIGHLIGHTED DURING THE "AMBASSADORS' CONFERENCE 2023"

On 26 December 2023, the participants of the Ambassadors' Conference 2023 highlighted the issues of European integration and the progress achieved in this regard during the panel discussion  titled: "Georgia - EU candidate country - new opportunities on the path of European integration".

Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, Deputy Minister Teimuraz Janjalia and Head of the Georgian Mission to the European Union Vakhtang Makharoblishvili addressed the participants of the meeting.

The main issue to be discussed was the European Union's decision to grant Georgia a candidate status.

The participants discussed the work done by the Georgian authorities to achieve this result and the steps planned in the future. They also highlighted the political significance of the candidate status, its practical aspects and new opportunities created along the way.

The participants noted that the candidate status made Georgia's accession to the European Union an irreversible process.

To achieve further progress, the participants emphasized the need to inform host countries about the steps taken on the road to European integration and to mobilize their support.

Talking points also included priorities of Georgia-EU relations.