‘Europe is very much open for you’: Germany backs EU membership bid of Russia’s neighbor Georgia
Germany #Germany
BERLIN — German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck backed the European Union membership bid of Russia’s Caucasus neighbor, Georgia, saying that the country was “very much welcome” in the bloc.
Georgia, a former Soviet state situated to Russia’s south-west border, applied for EU membership on March 3, 2022, one week after Russia’s full-blown invasion of Ukraine.
The European Council has since said that it is ready to grant the country candidate status once a series of parliamentary, legislative and economic reforms have been met.
But Habeck, who as Germany’s economy minister is a key voice in EU politics, went further Monday, saying: “Europe is very much open for you.”
“I know that your country is very much leaning towards Europe and you are very, very much welcome,” Habeck said at the opening ceremony of the ITB Berlin conference.
Georgia is one of a number of countries in the region that have hastened their EU membership bids in the wake of Russia’s invasion. Ukraine and neighboring Moldova applied for EU membership in February and March 2022, respectively, and were granted candidate status in June.
Tbilisi’s bid is of particular note, however, given the country’s earlier invasion by Russia in 2008, which resulted in a five-day war with hundreds killed and injured, and tens of thousands more displaced.
Today, Russia continues to occupy 20% of Georgia’s internationally recognized territory, and Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to view the country as an integral part of Moscow’s sphere of influence in the South Caucasus.
Putin will pay a ‘huge price’ for the war in Ukraine, former Swedish prime minister says
What to watch next
Making $86,000 a year as a subway conductor in NYC
CNBC
European Banks are more attractive due to American capitalism, says Smead Capital’s Cole Smead
CNBC
Banks and energy companies could keep paying decent dividends, portfolio manager says
CNBC
Beyond bond basics – advanced strategies
CNBC
French pension reform bill won’t face backlash in parliament, but will among the population, professor says
CNBC
Balancing books essential to the survival of France’s pension system, says lawmaker
CNBC
IWG CEO: People are working in a much more distributed way
CNBC
Some buildings post-pandemic are ‘not going to be competitive as office buildings anymore’ says RXR’s Rechler
CNBC
David Roche explains how China’s shifting growth model will ‘disappoint’ global markets
CNBC
Oil prices are in a good place right now, says Occidental Petroleum CEO
CNBC
China says policies for cross-border withdrawals have not changed
CNBC
Outlook for emerging markets looks good this year, says Mobius Capital Partners’ Mark Mobius
CNBC
China’s new foreign minister says relations with U.S. have ‘entirely deviated’ from a rational path
CNBC
Accessing top tech talent is one of our biggest challenges, says Tata Consultancy Services
CNBC
Lay off the layoffs: When do investors demand growth?
CNBC
A ban on TikTok is more likely as bipartisan support grows, says Platformer’s Casey Newton
CNBC
Click to expand
Making $86,000 a year as a subway conductor in NYC Natasha Dinnall, 51, works as a subway conductor in NYC and earns about $86,000 per year. Natasha joined the MTA in 1992 and took her first job with the agency as a property protection agent and later became a station agent, conductor, train operator, and finally a conductor again. CNBC 
European Banks are more attractive due to American capitalism, says Smead Capital’s Cole Smead Cole Smead, Smead Capital Management CEO, joins ‘The Exchange’ to discuss investing in Europe. CNBC 
Banks and energy companies could keep paying decent dividends, portfolio manager says Jane Shoemaker, client portfolio manager at Janus Henderson, discusses the company’s latest global dividend index. CNBC UP NEXT
“Georgia also suffered from Russia aggression in the Caucasian war,” Habeck said.
“The aggression of Russia on Georgia [in] 2008 was maybe the turning point when Putin became from a politician, a reformer for his country, to a tyrant,” he said.
Russia’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
Habeck was speaking alongside Georgia’s Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, who said that his government and the people of Georgia were “doing their best” to become a full EU member.
“Georgia’s bid has been recognized by the council of the European Union and we are even closer to our civilization of choice than ever before,” Garibashvili said.
“The current efforts of every Georgian are directed toward the day when Georgia will eventually secure its place on the map of Europe,” he added.