I move:
“That Seanad Éireann:
supports:
- EU enlargement policy for those countries that are guided by European norms and values, fulfil their commitments with the EU and deploy considerable efforts to advance their European integration;
welcomes:
- Georgia’s official applications for the European Union membership that has been submitted in the first quarter of 2022;
recognises:
- the rapid actions done by the Government of Georgia to answer and return the EU questionnaires to Brussels;
recognising:
- progress demonstrated by Georgia as well as acknowledging high-level of approximation with European Union, strongly recommends keeping the political momentum and granting Georgia with EU membership Candidate Status this June at the European Council meeting;
underlines:
- it is critical the decisions taken on Trio countries are synchronized and the Associated Trio is not split by reacting differently on granting the candidate status with full realization of the geopolitical context, while at the same time preserving a merit-based approach in the course of the accession process. Otherwise leaving any of the country behind in this process will bear a devastating effect on the society’s pro-European feelings, while giving a “green light” to Russia for unpredictable destructing actions;
acknowledges:
- the Candidate countries’ status will move Georgia closer to the EU membership and will incentivise them stronger to continue implementation of reforms aiming to strengthen and consolidate democracy of the Partners;
recognises:
- accomplishments on the path of European integration and encourages Georgia to maintain tangible progress in the implementation of necessary reforms for further political and economic integration with the EU;
calls on:
- the [EU HR/VP and relevant EU institutions] to engage more actively with Georgia to enhance the implementation of the Association Agreement/DCFTA in order to further consolidate Georgia’s democratic institutions and advance the process of Georgia’s economic integration with the EU;
recalls:
- that the Association Agreements/DCFTAs lay ground for the gradual integration of Georgia to the EU Single Market. Calls on the [European Commission] to consider setting the target of the full gradual access to the Single Market for Georgia and step up initiatives aimed at deeper sectoral integration with a view to achieve more policy convergence of Georgia with the EU. Stresses that the gradual full access to the four freedoms of the Single Market will generate a new momentum for further democratic and economic reforms, increase investments and translate into an overall increased resilience of the society in Georgia;
recognises:
- that over the last decades the people of Georgia have persistently displayed an overwhelming support to European integration, which have also been reflected in the continuously pro-European policies of successive respectful governments;
commends:
- the people and Government of Georgia for their successful reforms in recent years towards consolidating democracy, ensuring human rights protection, rule of law, media freedom and good governance as well as strengthening government transparency and judicial independence;
recommends:
- the Irish Government to support Georgia for granting Candidate countries’ status of the European Union that will move Georgia closer to the EU membership that will incentivise them stronger to continue implementation of reforms aiming to strengthen and consolidate democracy;
acknowledges:
- the important role that Georgia-Ireland Friendship Group plays in enhancement of inter-parliamentary ties, strengthening the bilateral cooperation and bringing nations closer to each other;
recommends:
- that Ireland and Georgia should continue close cooperation with the aim to further deepen our partnership, both in bilateral and multilateral formats, and work together towards an open Europe of unity and solidarity, to contribute to global peace and security.”