I stand here and say that the future of Georgia is in the European Union, European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi said this during his speech at the reception dedicated to the international cultural festival "Europalia" and Georgia's Independence Day in Belgium.
According to him, the obligations fulfilled by Georgia will be evaluated objectively and will bring results.
"Dear Mr. Prime Minister, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, as they say - gamarjoba. It is a great honor for me to be here with you today and to have the opportunity to celebrate Georgia's independence with you. This year's Europalia festival is dedicated to Georgia. This is a great opportunity to explore Georgia's glorious past, rich culture, traditions, modern art, and also see Georgia's near future. I have had the privilege of visiting your magnificent country several times. From the beginning of my mandate, what surprised me the most when I came to Georgia was the tradition and hospitality. Something that can be seen today and on which we can build our common future. We are here to celebrate Georgia's past, but our eyes are on the future. Georgia is fundamentally a European country, with its heart and soul. Our common roots and heritage go back to Greek and Roman times, and the values we share connect us to the European family. I stand here and say that the future of Georgia lies in the European Union. We are at a historical crossroads. One year ago, the European Council granted Georgia a European perspective, and in this context, I am glad that reforms are underway in Georgia and we want to see a sustainable and successful process. I assure you that the hard work and commitment you have undertaken will be evaluated objectively and will bring results. From our side, we continue to support Georgia on its way to the European Union. The economic and investment plan is the main tool that will bring Georgia and the European Union closer every day. With 1.2 billion investments already mobilized, we expect projects such as the Black Sea Electricity and Digital Cable to be implemented in the coming months, which will only bring us closer. In the evening we will see what connects Georgians to each other - deep love for the country, self-confidence, the beauty of Georgia and the strength of Europe. In the same spirit, Georgians of all professions can connect their aspirations for the European future of Georgia. I sincerely believe that Georgia will fulfill the necessary conditions next year and we will celebrate Georgia receiving the EU candidate status. Finally, I would like to urge everyone to attend all the events that are planned because Georgia has a lot to offer and we don't know a lot about Georgia in Europe. Thank you very much and congratulations on the National Day," said Varhelyi.
