Welcome remarks by the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski at EPAG/ENAM conference 'Future of Democracy – Where Do we Go Now?'

PRINT

Welcome remarks by the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski at EPAG/ENAM conference "Future of Democracy - Where Do we Go Now?"

06.10.2023 Press and information team of the Delegation to GEORGIA

Check against delivery

Distinguished guests,

Dear alumni,

It is my pleasure to welcome you today to this conference attended by so many bright minds from Georgia and other countries across Europe. This is truly an excellent opportunity for a fruitful exchange of experience and ideas among so many professionals of different backgrounds.

The topic of today's conference is the Future of Democracy. The European Union likes to call itself a "club of democracies", but we should not take democracy for granted.

No democracy is immune to the challenges we face today. Many countries around the world have experienced growing challenges to their democratic system, including in the EU. This is why, we must always stay vigilant and act upon the continued efforts to attack the rule of law, suppress human rights and freedoms, and repress civil society.

As authoritarian regimes develop and spread false narratives presenting themselves as easy alternatives to democracies, we should not underestimate the dangerous potential of information manipulation and disinformation campaigns.

Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine was also an attack on democracy and the rules-based order. That is why the European Union, its Member States, and democracies from all over the world have rallied to support Ukraine, recognising that the founding principles of our societies are at stake.

We know that vast majority of Georgia's population strongly support Georgian European integration. The people of Georgia have long made their choice-which is democracy and rules-based order. They want peaceful, prosperous future for them and future generations. This is why Georgia applied to become a member of the European Union.

Last year, the European Union responded to this aspiration and granted Georgia the European Perspective. The European Union also expressed readiness to grant the status of a candidate country to Georgia once the 12 priorities specified in the Commission's opinion have been addressed. This important decision opened Georgia's path towards the EU as it recognised that Georgia is eligible to join the European Union.

To move to the next stage and obtain the candidate status Georgia needs to implement the 12 priorities. As underlined by the EU High Representative Borrell said in Tbilisi last month: these 12 priorities contain essential reforms that the country needs. And they are not there to please Brussels, but to improve the quality of the institutions, and the democracy and the quality of life of the Georgian people. This is exactly why it should be taken as a "national endeavour". This is what people demand from their political leaders. This is why the European Union will continue to firmly stand by Georgia on this path for as long as it takes.

And here I want to stress the role that you play in this process. You are the future leaders of tomorrow, your actions will shape the future of your countries. If you ask me about the future of democracy, I would say it's YOU. The democracy should not be taken for granted, it needs to be earned, guarded and maintained. I hope this conference will serve as yet another platform towards this goal.

Didi Madloba and wishing you a successful conference!