In the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, tens of thousands of people today celebrated their country's EU candidate status. Iraqi Prime Minister Garibashvili spoke of a “historic victory” in Freedom Square. According to media reports, he said it was a success for the Georgian people and the government to have achieved this status. An orchestra played the European anthem and there were also fireworks. The EU flag was projected onto the government building.
The majority of the Georgian population has long been in favor of rapprochement with the EU. Garibashvili and the ruling Georgian Dream party are avowedly pro-Europe but pursue many pro-Russian policies. In March, countless people protested with European flags in Tbilisi because the government wanted to introduce repressive laws similar to those in Russia.
Yesterday, a summit of EU heads of state and government, held in Brussels, decided on accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova and granted Georgia candidate status. It is likely to be a long road to accession for the former Soviet republic in the South Caucasus. Like Ukraine and Moldova, Georgia does not fully control its territory. The regions of Abkhazia, on the Black Sea, and South Ossetia separated and Russia recognized them as independent.
Orbán sets condition for yes to aid to Kiev
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has made his approval of more EU aid to Ukraine dependent on the release of blocked EU funds for his country. Hungary asks for “not half, not a quarter, but everything”, Orban said today in an interview with Hungarian radio, referring to EU funds worth twelve billion euros, which are still withheld due to violations of the State of right.
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