'Europe is very much open for you': Germany backs EU membership bid of Russia's neighbor Georgia

BERLIN — German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck backed the European Union rank bid of Russia's Caucasus neighbor, Georgia, saying that the state was "very overmuch welcome" successful the bloc.

Georgia, a erstwhile Soviet authorities situated to Russia's south-west border, applied for EU rank connected March 3, 2022, 1 week aft Russia's full-blown penetration of Ukraine.

The European Council has since said that it is acceptable to assistance the state campaigner presumption erstwhile a bid of parliamentary, legislative and economical reforms person been met.

But Habeck, who arsenic Germany's system curate is simply a cardinal dependable successful EU politics, went further Monday, saying: "Europe is precise overmuch unfastened for you."

"I cognize that your state is precise overmuch leaning towards Europe and you are very, precise overmuch welcome," Habeck said astatine the opening ceremonial of the ITB Berlin conference.

Georgia is 1 of a fig of countries successful the portion that person hastened their EU rank bids successful the aftermath of Russia's invasion. Ukraine and neighboring Moldova applied for EU rank successful February and March 2022, respectively, and were granted campaigner presumption successful June.

Tbilisi's bid is of peculiar note, however, fixed the country's earlier penetration by Russia successful 2008, which resulted successful a five-day warfare with hundreds killed and injured, and tens of thousands much displaced.

Today, Russia continues to inhabit 20% of Georgia's internationally recognized territory, and Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to presumption the state arsenic an integral portion of Moscow's sphere of power successful the South Caucasus.

"Georgia besides suffered from Russia aggression successful the Caucasian war," Habeck said.

"The aggression of Russia connected Georgia [in] 2008 was possibly the turning constituent erstwhile Putin became from a politician, a reformer for his country, to a tyrant," helium said.

Habeck was speaking alongside Georgia's Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, who said that his authorities and the radical of Georgia were "doing their best" to go a afloat EU member.

"Georgia's bid has been recognized by the assembly of the European Union and we are adjacent person to our civilization of prime than ever before," Garibashvili said.

"The existent efforts of each Georgian are directed toward the time erstwhile Georgia volition yet unafraid its spot connected the representation of Europe," helium added.