More than 100,000 protesters took to the streets in Georgia on Monday evening after the European Commission issued an advice to delay Tbilisi’s application for EU membership.
The protesters carried European, Georgian and Ukrainian flags and placards reading “We are Europe”. The rally was supported by all opposition parties in the country. Another demonstration is scheduled for Friday.
Ukraine and Moldova are expected to be awarded candidate status during the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. A number of Member States, including Hungary and Slovenia, had indicated that countries such as Georgia and Bosnia should also be given candidate status. The European Commission thinks it is still too early for Georgia, partly because politics in the Caucasian country is too turbulent and erratic.