France explains refusal to recognise Georgia as EU candidate

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has explained the European Union's (EU) refusal to grant Georgia a candidate status for membership in the organisation by the lack of necessary prerequisites for this.

She made the remarks in response to a question about the reasons for the EU's different approach to the plans of countries to obtain such status on July 19 at a meeting of the Senate (upper house of Parliament) commission on international affairs, defence and armed forces, according to TASS.

"The difference in approaches to granting candidate status to Georgia, unlike Ukraine and Moldova, is explained by the conclusion of the European Commission, which forms its opinion based on certain criteria," said Colonna.

According to her, "the European Commission has come to the conclusion that the situation in Georgia in economic terms, in the issue of reforms, as well as in relation to the rule of law is not the same as in Ukraine and Moldova".

"This does not allow her to be granted the status of a candidate right now," the minister noted.

At the same time, she stressed that Georgia has "recognised the European perspective".