Many pro-European organizations and all opposition parties in Georgia have called on their supporters to join this “march for Europe” to “demonstrate the commitment of the Georgian people to Western values”.
Tens of thousands of Georgians demonstrated in Tbilissi (Georgia) today demanding the accession of this former Soviet republic of the Caucasus to the European Union.
Holding European and Georgian flags, about 60,000 protesters, according to the French Agency, gathered outside parliament, a few days after the European Commission suggested that Georgia not yet be granted candidate status.
Many pro-European organizations and all opposition parties have called on their supporters to join this “march for Europe” to “demonstrate the commitment of the Georgian people to 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.
Although the European Commission on Friday recommended granting candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, it said 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 “satisfied” it had received “a specific roadmap”, but regretted that the Commission had not already endorsed Georgia’s candidate status. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said his government would work with Brussels to implement all the reforms and get Georgia candidate status.
