Georgian Parliament official: EU accession roadmaps for Ukraine, Moldova show Brussels not serious about enlargement

Rati Ionatamishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on Human Rights Protection and Civil Integration, said on Wednesday that the absence of clear timelines and a concrete path to EU membership in the accession roadmaps being prepared for Ukraine and Moldova indicated that Brussels was not seriously considering their accession.

Ionatamishvili was commenting on reports by Ukrainian media that the roadmaps the European Commission is preparing for Ukraine and Moldova as part of its enlargement package do not include indicative dates for the completion of accession negotiations.

He argued that the process was designed to raise false hopes and stir public emotions.

“Such a patronising, master-servant approach is precisely what damages and undermines the image and reputation of European institutions internationally. It is regrettable that Eurobureaucrats are acting neither in the interests of Europe nor those of candidate countries, but solely in pursuit of narrow political interests that contradict European values”, Ionatamishvili said.