Georgia plans to submit an application to join the European Union on March 3,following Ukraine's decision to press its demands for membership in the face of Russia's invasion.
Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, announced his party's decision "to immediately apply for the EU membership" at a news conference on March 2.
Georgia had been planning to submit the application in 2024 but the party decided to apply in an expedited manner due to the changed situation in the world.
Earlier on March 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he and European Council President Charles Michel had discussed the situation on the battlefield and diplomatic efforts during a phone call.
Zelenskiy said Kyiv was "waiting for the positive signals about Ukraine's membership in the EU."
SEE ALSO: Zelenskiy Calls For Ukraine's Immediate EU Membership But Bloc Cool On IdeaUkrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Ukraine was working to quickly finalize accession procedures but that everything depended on the political will of the EU.
"The EU has shown itself to be able to make fundamental decisions when it had political will," Kuleba said. "Now is the time to make such a decision on our membership."
The accession process usually takes years and requires meeting strict criteria that take into account such factors as economic stability, fighting corruption, and respect for human rights. Unanimity among the 27-member bloc is required to allow new members in.
Both Georgia and Ukraine have signed Association Agreements with the EU "on economic integration and political approximation" and free trade, which are not guarantees for eventual membership.
The two former Soviet republics' efforts to forge closer ties with the West have long angered Russia. Tensions over Georgia's efforts culminated in a Russian invasion in 2008.
Kobakhidze called on the EU to consider Georgia's application urgently. Georgia's goal is to become an economically strong and secure European country, and every step, including the decision on the EU membership application, serves this purpose, he said at the news conference.
In recent years Georgia has had a number of achievements on its path to EU integration, Kobakhidze added, citing the Association Agreement and a free-trade agreement.
Georgia has implemented many reforms that have brought the country closer to EU standards, he said.
"A logical continuation of this effort is our decision today to submit an application immediately and obtain candidate status," Kobakhidze told reporters.