Georgia continues to implement the recommendations and expects a positive decision of the European Council on granting the country candidate status for EU membership, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said at a meeting with President of the European Council Charles Michel.

According to the press service of the government administration, the meeting took place in Dubai, where world leaders gathered at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28). The event is attended by 70 thousand delegates from different countries, including Georgia.

The Prime Minister informed the President of the European Council about the reforms already implemented by Georgia on the path of European integration. Attention was focused on the positive recommendation of the European Commission on granting Georgia candidate status.

"As Irakli Garibashvili noted, Georgia continues the successful process of implementing the EU recommendations... According to the head of government, the progress made by Georgia has been confirmed by the European Commission, and now our country is waiting for a positive decision of the European Council on granting candidate status", the message says.

The head of the Georgian government also noted that the authorities have a specific vision for each reform, an appropriate action plan has been drawn up, deadlines have been set, and in this process the authorities are working in coordination with EU representatives.

The President of the European Council also tweeted about the meeting with the Prime Minister of Georgia on his page on the social network, noting that "Georgia's commitment to the path to the EU remains firm."

"I have once again confirmed the EU's commitment to Georgia to Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. The EU welcomes Georgia's ongoing efforts to advance the reform agenda and action plan in order to take the necessary steps in the interests of the Georgian people", Michel wrote on the social network X (Twitter).

On November 8, 2023, the European Commission published a report on Georgia's fulfillment of 12 conditions and recommended that the European Council grant the country the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union. At the same time, the European Commission called on Georgia to take nine steps, including holding free elections, rapprochement with EU foreign policy, depolarization and more.

Georgia will receive candidate status if the decision of the European Commission is supported by the leaders of all 27 EU countries. The decision will be made on December 14-15, 2023.