Salomé ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia is invited to the European Parliament, in Brussels. She first meets with Roberta METSOLA, EP President. The President of Georgia later attends the plenary session for a formal sitting address to members. Extracts from the meeting with EP President and from the formal sitting.

Brussels

plenary session

EU - Georgia (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

formal sitting

ZOURABICHVILI, Salome (GE)

president's agenda

Georgia's application for EU membership (T)

Visit of Salomé ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia to the European Parliament: meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President: arrival, welcome and roundtable, extracts from the formal sitting

Title: Visit of Salom&#233; ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia to the European Parliament: meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President: arrival, welcome and roundtable, extracts from the formal sitting

Roberta METSOLA, EP President welcomes Salom&eacute; ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia, 2 shots

Meeting between Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Salom&eacute; ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia, 4 shots

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, 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.

SOUNDBITE (French), Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia, The Georgian nation has already decided, and I stand before you and pass on this message. Our European choice is not only legitimate, but there is no alternative because it is based on our values, our history, our struggles, our determination, our vision for the future.

SOUNDBITE (English), Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia, I want to see Georgia get past domestic and international challenges and firmly embark on the path to full fledged European integration. And for that, there is only one road to secure Georgia be granted by Europe and the status of candidate to the European Union. And I am confident.

SOUNDBITE (English), Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia, We know too well that Ukraine is not only defending its territory, but is shedding blood for us all, for Europe, its security and freedom, for Georgia, its security and European future. I would like to reiterate here my personal respect, admiration and support to President Zelensky and his people. I am convinced that in the near future, both our countries will see their representatives sitting side by side in this very chamber.

SOUNDBITE (English), Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia, Let's reflect for a moment for what it means to welcome citizens from the country which is occupying 20% of your territory and wages the most brutal aggression against your friend Ukraine, that this has happened without any serious incident speaks millions of Georgians tolerance.

SOUNDBITE (English), Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia, That is why European candidate status is not only about essential democratic recommendations, but also about the future European security architecture. It is about long term stability. And I say this not as a bargaining plea that would be both immoral and wrong, but as a lesson of history. Leaving us behind would only encourage Russia to seek compensation for its own failure to win a war it started but cannot end.