December 15, 2023: Thousands of Georgians are expected to gather at Freedom Square in Tbilisi on Saturday evening to celebrate the country’s official recognition as a candidate for EU membership.
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 on November 12, 2023.
Georgian officials and citizens hailed the decision as a historic achievement and a clear signal of the EU’s support for Georgia’s reforms and integration.
“It’s a great honour to congratulate you all on this historic decision. This is, of course, a historic day for Georgia”, said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
Georgia applied for EU membership in March 2022 after Russia invaded its neighbour 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.
Granting candidate status does not automatically mean that Georgia will start accession negotiations with the EU, 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, the freedom of the media, 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.
The Georgian government has organized a public celebration at Freedom Square, the capital city’s main square, where a large stage and a giant screen have been set up to mark the occasion.
The celebration will start at 17:00 and feature speeches by the prime minister, the president, the speaker of parliament, the EU ambassador, and other dignitaries, as well as musical performances by famous Georgian artists.
The event will also be broadcast live on several TV channels and online platforms.
Those who wish to attend the celebration can take advantage of complimentary transportation provided by the government. Buses will depart from the area near the Ozurgeti post office at 09:00 and return after the event.
The government has also announced that the Tbilisi bridge and the peace bridge, which span the Kura River in the city, will be illuminated in blue and yellow, the colours of the EU flag, for the second night in a row.
“I’m so happy and proud of my country. This is a dream come true. We are finally part of Europe,” wrote one user on Twitter.
“Today is a historic day for Georgia and the whole region. We have made a huge step towards our European future. Thank you, EU, for your support and trust,” wrote another.
