Georgian Parliament Speaker welcomes new platform for EU candidate countries’ Parliament Speakers

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday embarked on an official visit to Belgrade to participate in the first Conference of the Speakers of Parliaments of European Union membership candidate countries.

Papuashvili welcomed the launch of the initiative, saying the Conference would formally establish a platform for parliamentary speakers from candidate countries.

“A few weeks ago, we communicated with the Ukrainian Parliament Speaker, Mr. Ruslan Stefanchuk, who introduced this idea to us. We naturally welcome the creation of a platform where the speakers of parliaments from candidate countries can share both the positive and the negative experiences they have gained during the European integration process”, he noted.

“Today we will have the opportunity to discuss how we envision the future work of this platform, both at the level of parliament speakers and at the level of sectoral committees”, the Speaker continued.

Asked whether he expected to hear the views of his counterparts on the European Union’s proposed new approach to enlargement, Papuashvili said it was clear that the accession process should not be viewed as a one-sided path.

“The process of joining the European Union is not a one-way street. Candidate countries should not be seen merely as objects of accession. We are participants in this process and co-creators of Europe’s future. I believe candidate countries should also have their say, both on the accession process itself and on the challenges that may accompany it”, he added.

Papuashvili further noted that, through his regular contacts with fellow parliament speakers from candidate countries, he had repeatedly heard about the difficulties they encounter during the accession process.

“We will discuss these issues today, adopt a joint declaration related to this forum, and I hope we will have the opportunity to maintain intensive cooperation within this platform in the future”, the Speaker concluded.