Shalva Papuashvili, Georgia's Parliamentary Chairperson, and Mircea Geoană, NATO's Deputy Secretary General, met in Brussels.
According to the Georgian Parliament, the two officials addressed Russia's actions against Ukraine, Georgia's cooperation with the Alliance, and regional peace and stability. "It's critical that Russia's aggression against Ukraine ends quickly," Speaker Papuashvili said after the meeting. "(NATO's) assessments in this respect were fascinating." He emphasised the significance of ongoing collaboration, including active contact and meetings, throughout the war and stressed Georgia's loyalty to the Alliance.
The NATO Deputy Secretary General said in a tweet that they “greatly value our long-standing cooperation with Georgia, one of the Alliance’s closest partners.”
On his official visit to Brussels, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili met with Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, and MEPs Iratxe García Pérez and Marina Kaljurand.
Following the meeting, President Roberta Metsola tweeted that the European Parliament has acknowledged Georgia's bid for EU membership. Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova, she claimed, "belong to the European family. Rule of law, independent judiciary, and true parliamentary discourse are necessary for democracy," President Metsola added.
Speaker Papuashvili, for his part, praised President Metsola as a "true supporter" who "supports Georgia's return to the European family."
The parties addressed Georgia's EU membership ambition and Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine in a meeting with Commissioner Reynders, according to the Georgian parliamentary press office. The Georgian Speaker and EU representative also discussed the significance of the rule of law, human rights, and judicial reform, as well as measures made to align Georgia's laws with EU legislation.
Speaker Papuashvili's discussion with Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) MEPs Pérez and Kaljurand focused on Ukraine and Georgia's EU membership prospects.
After the meeting, S&D President Pérez tweeted, "we are ready to assist achieve the European ambitions of Georgia's people, but we demand progress on democratic reforms and rule of law."
