Viola von Kramon: Georgia's statement on EU membership is unlikely to be taken seriously
MEP Viola von Kramon believes that despite the Georgian government's plans to apply for EU membership in 2024, "it is still a long way off."
"I doubt that we are at the stage when Georgia's application for EU membership will be taken seriously, at least in the European Parliament," Viola von Kramon, who recently visited Georgia, said.
Speaking at an online conference at the Georgian Institute of Politics, von Kramon noted that the ruling party's statements about its intention to apply to the EU "are probably due to ignorance of what is expected of them."
"I would like Georgia to be closer [to EU membership]. However, after talking to several well-known people in the country, I would say that, to be honest, Georgia is as far from membership as we can imagine.
After numerous visits to Georgia, I get the impression that everything has changed significantly in recent years: the decision-making process in the government and parliament is unclear, and many structures are not as transparent as before. The goal of joining the EU is certainly important, but there is a lack of perception and concept of how to achieve this. Especially when you remove most pro-European, pro-transatlantic figures from positions of responsibility, it is very difficult to admit that achieving this goal is a serious goal or problem for you.
I really liked your former ambassador to Brussels, Natalie Sabanadze — she correctly wrote that it is not enough to talk about the aspirations for the EU. I mean, by stating this, you must also take some action at the same time. From my point of view, at least there is not enough real action.
We have seen a lot of contradictory statements from the Georgian Dream and government officials, there are a lot of rotations in the ministries, people come and go, so there is no strategy for how the ruling party is going to achieve this goal.
So, as I said, we all want to see Georgia take a different direction, but in the current situation, with the existing willingness to share power and responsibility [with the opposition], and so on, I must say that I doubt that we are at the stage were applying for membership will be taken seriously, at least by the European Parliament. But this is my very personal assessment, " Viola von Cramon said.
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Viola von Kramon: Georgia's statement on EU membership is unlikely to be taken seriously
MEP Viola von Kramon believes that despite the Georgian government's plans to apply for EU membership in 2024, "it is still a long way off."
"I doubt that we are at the stage when Georgia's application for EU membership will be taken seriously, at least in the European Parliament," Viola von Kramon, who recently visited Georgia, said.
Speaking at an online conference at the Georgian Institute of Politics, von Kramon noted that the ruling party's statements about its intention to apply to the EU "are probably due to ignorance of what is expected of them."
"I would like Georgia to be closer [to EU membership]. However, after talking to several well-known people in the country, I would say that, to be honest, Georgia is as far from membership as we can imagine.
After numerous visits to Georgia, I get the impression that everything has changed significantly in recent years: the decision-making process in the government and parliament is unclear, and many structures are not as transparent as before. The goal of joining the EU is certainly important, but there is a lack of perception and concept of how to achieve this. Especially when you remove most pro-European, pro-transatlantic figures from positions of responsibility, it is very difficult to admit that achieving this goal is a serious goal or problem for you.
I really liked your former ambassador to Brussels, Natalie Sabanadze — she correctly wrote that it is not enough to talk about the aspirations for the EU. I mean, by stating this, you must also take some action at the same time. From my point of view, at least there is not enough real action.
We have seen a lot of contradictory statements from the Georgian Dream and government officials, there are a lot of rotations in the ministries, people come and go, so there is no strategy for how the ruling party is going to achieve this goal.
So, as I said, we all want to see Georgia take a different direction, but in the current situation, with the existing willingness to share power and responsibility [with the opposition], and so on, I must say that I doubt that we are at the stage were applying for membership will be taken seriously, at least by the European Parliament. But this is my very personal assessment, " Viola von Cramon said.
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