Tbilisi, Georgia: Georgia marked its official recognition as a candidate for EU membership by lighting up two of its iconic bridges in the colours of the EU flag on Friday night, i.e., December 14, 2023.
The Tbilisi Bridge and the Peace Bridge, which span the Kura River in the capital city, were illuminated in blue and yellow to symbolize Georgia’s European aspirations and achievements.
The European Council, the EU’s top decision-making body, granted candidate status to Georgia on Thursday, following a positive recommendation from the European Commission in November.
Georgian officials and citizens welcomed the decision as a historic milestone and a clear signal of the EU’s support for Georgia’s reforms and integration.
“Georgia has taken another important step towards becoming a member of the European family. We are grateful to the EU for this recognition and are determined to continue our efforts to meet the EU standards and values,” Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said in a statement.
Georgia applied for EU membership in March 2022 after Russia invaded its neighbor Ukraine and threatened regional stability. Georgia has pursued closer ties with the EU since the 2003 Rose Revolution, which ousted a corrupt and authoritarian regime.
In 2016, Georgia signed an association agreement with the EU, establishing a deep and comprehensive free trade area and a visa-free regime for Georgian citizens. Georgia has also aligned itself with the EU’s foreign and security policy and contributed to the EU’s peacekeeping and crisis management missions.
The EU is Georgia’s largest trading partner and donor, providing financial and technical assistance to support the country’s democratic development, economic growth and resilience.
Granting candidate status does not automatically mean that Georgia will start accession negotiations with the EU, which is a separate and lengthy process. Georgia will have to address the priorities specified in the Commission’s opinion on its membership application, which includes strengthening the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, media freedom and the fight against corruption.
The EU has also urged Georgia to overcome its political polarization and to engage in constructive dialogue and cooperation among all political actors.
Georgia is one of the six countries participating in the Eastern Partnership, an EU initiative to foster closer relations with its eastern neighbours. The other five are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. Of these, only Ukraine and Moldova have also applied for EU membership and received candidate status.
