Several former ambassadors have issued statement regarding the European Commission’s decision.

“Unfortunately, as expected, the European Council fully shared the recommendation of the European Commission and granted EU candidate status only to Ukraine and Moldova, while it set specific preconditions for Georgia. It is very unfortunate that by the mentioned decision Georgia has been separated from the Associated Trio and the group of leaders of the EU Eastern Partnership Initiative, where it was a leading country and the best reformer a few years ago.

From the very first day of the restoration of Georgia’s independence, the main task of Georgian diplomacy has been the rapid return of Georgia to the European family and the irreversible integration of our country into the Euro-Atlantic space.

It is extremely unfortunate that the Georgian Government met this unique and historic opportunity completely unprepared and, instead of working intensively with our European partners, intensified its anti-European rhetoric”, - reads the statement.