EU Ambassador to Georgia Pavel Gerchinsky, speaking about Georgia, said that EU leaders have decided to freeze the accession process and are patiently waiting for more clarity from the Georgian government, Ekho Kavkaza reports, writes UNN.
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"At the moment, Georgia's accession to the EU is suspended," Gerchinsky emphasized, as quoted by the publication.
"This was very clearly stated by the EU leaders after the European Council summit. I can't imagine that this year Georgia will move forward, make steps, because the EU leaders decided to freeze the accession process. Now they are patiently waiting for more clarity from the Georgian government," the diplomat said in Tbilisi at a two-day international conference.
Gerchinsky also reported on the EU's decision to freeze 30 million euros earmarked for defense support to the state.
"And this is only the first step, there will be others. Our direct assistance to the Georgian government will be reduced, and we will try to shift this direct assistance to civil society and the media. This was announced after the meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg," Gerchinsky said.
The Ambassador also noted that it is still unclear whether the EU enlargement process will affect Georgia.
"Enlargement is one of the most important challenges facing the European Union and I sincerely hope that during the next 5 years of the newly elected leadership there will be a big wave of further EU enlargement. In the case of Georgia - it is still unclear whether it will be part of the next big wave of EU enlargement. I sincerely hope that it will be so, and after the October elections we will resume our work and will be able to ensure that Georgia becomes part of the further enlargement of the EU," the Ambassador noted.