Pro-EU sentiment surges in Georgia
80% of Georgians support EU membership
Country makes formal application to join bloc
The vast majority of Georgians want their country to join the European Union (EU), according to a recent poll. As many as 80% of the population is in favor of EU membership, a significant increase from just a few years ago.
This surge in pro-EU sentiment comes as Georgia seeks to deepen its ties with the West and move away from Russia's sphere of influence. The country has been a member of the EU's Eastern Partnership program since 2009 and has signed an association agreement with the bloc.
In March 2022, Georgia formally applied for EU membership. The European Commission has since recommended that Georgia be granted candidate status, which would be a major step towards eventual membership.
The scenes in Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, are reminiscent of those in Ukraine in 2014, when that country was also seeking closer ties with the EU. The Georgian government has said that it is committed to implementing the reforms necessary to meet the EU's membership criteria.