Ambassador's Welcome Speech
მისასალმებელი სიტყვა
Welcome to the website of the Embassy of Georgia to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg / the Mission of Georgia to the European Union
I am honoured to lead one of the most important diplomatic Missions of Georgia in these times of mounting challenges but, also, unprecedented opportunities. This Mission/Embassy has represented Georgia in Brussels, promoted its European integration and helped develop the excellent relations with Belgium and Luxembourg for more than three decades.
Integration with the European Union has always been a top priority of not only the foreign policy but also of the internal policy of Georgia, enshrined at the same time, in the Constitution. The people of Georgia have consistently and overwhelmingly supported the goal of EU accession since independence despite many obstacles on the way, including the military aggression and occupation by Russia of Georgian regions. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 brought the enlargement back to the EU agenda as Georgia, alongside with Ukraine and Moldova, applied for EU membership. A few months later, the EU opened its doors for Georgia giving us the perspective to join the Union. This can be seen as probably the most significant foreign policy achievement of Georgia since its independence as it locates us as a politically inalienable part of the European family of nations.
The process of European integration has been an important driver of Georgia’s democratic development that has underpinned and guided country’s efforts to strengthen and consolidate its democracy, better protect individual rights and freedoms and ensure the good governance based on the rule of law. EU-Georgia cooperation has also been one of the catalysts of economic reforms that underlie Georgia’s economic development and prosperity of its citizens. Importantly, European integration has made Georgia a key partner of the European Union in the region.
The status of EU membership candidate country that Georgia obtained in 2023 launched a qualitatively new phase of Georgia’s European integration and opened up a number of new possibilities and opportunities on this path. Most importantly, the candidate status is a milestone that engages Georgia irreversibly in the process leading to EU membership.
It is worth to be noted that Georgia joins the EU enlargement policy with at least ten years of intensive preparation through legislative approximation and alignment of norms and standards in various policies, in line with Association Agreement which we signed in 2014. We had been consistently and relentlessly bringing Georgia closer to the EU even without having a formal membership perspective, which is bearing fruit now as we have, already at this early stage of accession, a good position in a number of areas covered by the Enlargement Reports.
One of the most important areas where EU and Georgia have worked closely together is security. Georgia has been an active participant of various EU-led CSDP missions in various parts of the world. On the other hand, the EU is one of the co-chairs of Geneva International Discussions on Russia-Georgia conflict and provides the only international presence (EUMM) on the ground along the occupation line.
Georgia has been for many years one of the most successful illustrations of EU’s transformative power in a country whose society is overwhelmingly supportive of its European integration. We have come a long way to be, first, an EU neighbor, than an EU associated partner and now an EU membership candidate. We continue with our democratic reforms, legislative and policy alignment with the EU to move to the next steps of EU accession and achieve a major foreign policy goal of Georgia – membership of the European Union.
Apart from being the Mission to the EU, we represent Georgia to Belgium and Luxembourg as well. Over the last three decades since Georgia and Belgium restored diplomatic relations, bilateral cooperation has steadily evolved. However, it is worth mentioning that the historical ties and friendship between our two nations date back to the early 20th century. Famous Belgian statesmen, such as Emile Vanderveld, Minister of Justice, Foreign Affairs, and Public Health, paid a visit to the first Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918–1921) in 1920. Later, he described Tbilisi as the place where "construction of a real democratic structure began" in an article that was published in the magazine "Le Peuple."
Georgia and Belgium enjoy close relations that have gained active dynamics in the political, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian domains, regular bilateral meetings at high and highest levels in Brussels and in Tbilisi confirm the lively character of our relations. Ties between Georgia and Luxembourg have always been based on genuine friendship, mutual respect and the desire to go further in our bilateral cooperation. Both Belgium and Luxembourg have been strong supporters of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including through constant support rendered to Georgia in various international organizations. Both countries are also Georgia’s valuable partners and steadfast supporters of country’s EU membership path and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Georgians living in Belgium and Luxemburg have also made their contribution to the development of Georgian-Belgian and Georgian-Luxembourgish relations over the last decades. I am certain that the Georgian diaspora in Belgium and Luxembourg will continue to play its role in deepening the economic and cultural ties between our countries.
It is one of the priorities of the Embassy to promote Georgia – our culture, history and core values – in Belgium, to make sure that as many Belgians as possible know about how much Georgia has to offer in terms of cultural heritage and artistic creation. With this purpose Georgia applied and was granted the right to be the host of Europalia 2023. We were given a wonderful opportunity to bring Georgia’s rich history, culture and contemporary arts to Belgium. For more than four months, Belgian theaters, concert halls and cultural centers in Brussels, Antwerp, Liege, Gent and other cities welcomed Georgian artists, painters, actors, singers, dancers and other performers. What made this festival even more meaningful is that it took place at the moment when the EU institutions decided to grant Georgia the status of a candidate for EU membership.
This website, through the efforts of the Embassy staff who operate it, will attempt to be your guide to Georgia’s ever-closer relations with the EU, as well as to the dynamic bilateral cooperation with Belgium and Luxembourg.
