Meeting with the President of the Bundestag
On November 30, Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian parliament, met with Bärbel Bas, the President of the German Bundestag, the Press Office of the Georgian Parliament reported.
The parties emphasized the 30th anniversary of Georgia and Germany's diplomatic relations. They discussed the cordial and fruitful relationships between the two nations. German support for Georgia's territorial integrity and its institutional and socioeconomic development was acknowledged by Speaker Papuashvili. He emphasized that Georgia has strong institutions and follows the right route toward joining the EU and NATO since Germany supports it. The parties discussed working together in parliament and pledged to put the relationships between the friendship groups and sectoral committees into effect.
Papuashvili gave comprehensive details on Georgia's progress toward EU membership, including the measures now being implemented to comply with EU proposals. As mentioned, the new geopolitical environment has strengthened Georgia's function as a transit and logistical hub.
The President of the Bundestag praised Georgia's efforts to join the EU and noted that Germany supports Georgia's application for EU candidate status.
Meeting with the Bundestag's European Union Affairs Committee Chair
On the same day, Shalva Papuashvili met with Anton Hofreiter, the head of the German Bundestag's Committee on EU Affairs.
The parties emphasized Germany's unique contribution to Georgia's admission into the EU. Speaker Papuashvili discussed the advancements made by Georgia in implementing the EU's proposals and the ongoing reforms in each area.
Hofreiter stated that Georgia could rely on Germany in this regard because Germany supports the EU's expansion agenda. Papuashvili thanked Germany for defending Georgia's territorial integrity and emphasized that the nation's contribution to the EU Monitoring Mission is by far the largest.
Speaker Papuashvili: "Germany plays a special role in Georgia's progress on the EU integration path"
On November 30, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament stated that Germany plays a distinctive and essential role in the advancement of Georgia on the EU integration road.
The Speaker noted in his remarks at the celebration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Germany that the German Chancellor's words that unified Europe mean Europe from Lisbon to Tbilisi manifest the clarity of Germany's vision on the full-fledged EU membership of Georgia. "Although major choices have yet to be made, and we genuinely depend on Germany in this process, it is a very important message for Georgia," he added.
The Speaker emphasized Germany's unique contribution to Georgia's road toward EU membership and expressed gratitude to the host nation for Germany's long-standing, sincere assistance to Georgia. "Germany has been standing by our side for years as a selfless and genuine friend in the process of our democratic and institutional development. The merit of the German people is indeed immense in our educational sphere, contributed using the introduction of modern concepts of education and allowing Georgian students to study in Germany. The extreme value of this opportunity is even further emphasized by the fact that all members of the Georgian Parliamentary Delegation present at the event today, including the majority and opposition MPs, have obtained higher education in Germany. I am extremely proud to see our famous artists, Nino Kharatishvili, Liza Batiashvili, and Dudana Mazmanishvili, as the central figures of this evening; they already are part of the Georgian, as well as the German, culture," the Speaker highlighted.
