According to the chairman of Georgian Dream Irakli Kobakhidze, the government has a reason for optimism regarding the EU candidate status, because everything is ready for this.

He called the statement of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, general and noted that it should be clarified.

"As for Charles Michel's statement, this statement had positive and negative sides. In general, it was important to name a specific date, year, however, this statement was a bit general, and to whom it concerns the year 2030, this is interesting. There are candidate countries of the European Union, which received the candidate status, for example, 18, 12 years ago, there are such countries. If we are talking only about these countries, mainly the Balkan countries, it is a different matter. When a country becomes a candidate 18 years ago and there is a promise to it that it can become a member of the European Union in 7 years, of course, this does not give grounds for great optimism. It is hoped that in the future it will be specified that 2030 is the relevant date for all countries that have candidate status or will receive candidate status in the near future. Everything will be done to get candidate status. We have made very tangible progress in fulfilling the 12 points. Work in this direction continues and will be completed in the near future. Our government will be genuine before the European Union from the beginning to the end, all the grounds will be ready for us to be granted the candidate status in December. The decision will be political. I will repeat once again that the political decision is 50/50. Let's see what decision they will make. We have reason for optimism because everything is ready to get candidate status. In general, naming a specific date is not a bad thing, it's good, but it needs clarification as to who this date applies to. Whether it is only for those countries that received the candidate status 12, 18 years ago, or if it also applies to the countries that received the candidate status last year or should receive it this year," Kobakhidze said.

According to him, in reality, by 2030, Georgia will be the most ready to become a member of the European Union, including in terms of economic growth.

"By 2030, if anyone will be ready for EU membership, it will be Georgia, based on the policy that our government is conducting. This is the purely political dimension of our politics, as well as the economic dimension. In 2030, if anyone has the prospect of getting membership status, it will be Georgia, although we need more specifics in this regard," said Kobakhidze.

In addition, according to the chairman of the ruling party, "the opposition does not want Georgia to receive the status of a candidate in December."

For information, the President of the European Council Charles Michel states that the enlargement of the European Union is no longer a dream and the Union should be ready for it by 2030.

"Now as we speak, the people of Ukraine are heroically defending their country. The Kremlin is attacking not only a free and sovereign neighbor, but all the values we believe in - freedom, democracy, prosperity and cooperation. In June last year, we granted candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. The same awaits Georgia if it takes the necessary steps. Therefore, expansion is no longer a dream. It's time to move forward," said Charles Michel.