Georgia applied for EU membership last year but has not yet obtained candidate status, with the necessary political and judicial reforms still pending. Now, Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia, visits the European Parliament in Brussels. Roberta METSOLA, EP President, gives her opening statement ahead of the formal sitting. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

plenary session

EU - Georgia (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

formal sitting

ZOURABICHVILI, Salome (GE)

president's agenda

Formal sitting with Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia: introductory remarks by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Dear colleagues, we have with us today the President of Georgia Salom&eacute; Zourabichvili. Dear Salom&eacute;, welcome to the European Parliament. And let me start, Dear President, by thanking you for your personal commitment in supporting the European calling of Georgian society. We want the right conditions to exist to enable an EU future for Georgian citizens. I want to reiterate that we stand by your side, ready to support you in your journey to become an integral part of the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We need to work more and closer together towards granting EU candidate status to Georgia, ensuring that the Georgian people do not miss a historic opportunity. For this, we need to see tangible movement on a number of milestones in securing democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and ensuring media freedom and protecting journalists, and safeguarding fundamental rights and personal dignity for detainees. And here, let me reiterate that this House has expressed its concern over the situation of Mikhail Saakashvili.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, The European Union stands ready to assist Georgia on its European path, providing all the necessary assistance along this transformative journey. But it is up to Georgia to walk that path and to choose its own future. Madam President, I commend the strength with which you lead your country and we further count on you to help ease the political and societal polarisation in Georgia. Let us keep working together to safeguard the rights of our European peoples and the future of our societies. The floor is yours.