We expected to receive the status of a candidate, although we understand that it was only a political decision and it was not a decision based on merit, Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili said while presenting the 2022 report.

According to him, all the progress that has been achieved in the country in the last 10 years is only thanks to Georgian Dream.

"Georgia was given a European perspective that was unimaginable until now. This war accelerated the processes and we understand it well. I would like to reiterate that we expected to receive the candidate status, although we understand that it was only a political decision and it was not a decision based on merit that Georgia was not given the status at this stage. We believe that our country will receive this status very soon. What allows me to say this is the circumstances and the successful reforms that we have carried out, the 12 points that have been defined by the European Union, have been meticulously carried out with the involvement of our Parliament, the Government and all of us, and now we are waiting for the decision of our European colleagues. Here I would like to remind the public that all the good things and all the progress achieved in the last 10 years on the path of our country's European integration are only the merit of our team. Association agreement, free trade, visa-free regime, the now official application for EU membership and European perspective - all this is thanks to the Georgia­n Dream," said the Prime Minister.

source: IPN