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Macron indicate Paris is seeking to manage expectations ahead of the summit. Shortly after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced he had signed Ukraine’s application to join the EU, Georgia and Moldova also said they would file applications. Like Ukraine, both of the countries have parts of their territories occupied by pro-Russian separatists, though these conflicts are frozen, and are seen as highly vulnerable to potential Russian aggression in future.
However, the enthusiasm with which politicians in countries like Poland, the Baltic states and Slovenia welcomed Ukraine’s application has not been matched by all the EU members.
Macron and the country’s Minister for European Affairs Clement Beaune have talked down expectations of a speedy accession process for Ukraine, even with the tremendous goodwill towards the country.
Earlier in May, Macron proposed a new, informal grouping of like-minded European countries. Criteria for joining would be based on geography and a shared set of values, and the new union’s remit could include political co-ordination, collective security and energy, Macron told reporters.
At the World Economic Forum panel, both Gavrilița and Garibashvili stressed that while they were keen on any initiative that would bring their countries closer to the EU, they did not want to accept a weaker alternative to full membership as their ultimate goals. Gavrilița said that the country has received public assurances that Macron’s proposal is not a replacement for membership pathway.
2.3 Culture minister in spotlight after firing of 40 staff from Georgian National Museum
The Georgian Trade Union of Science, Education, and Culture Workers has issued a statement calling the dismissals of 40 employees from the Georgian National Museum illegal and “opaque”.
Local reports say the Minister of Culture Thea Tsulukiani is facing claims that she is purging critics from the museum.
The Ministry of Culture described the layoffs as part of a “reorganisation”. But the union said they were conducted in “bad faith”.
Those fired from the National Museum include art critics, archaeologists, public relations staff, and senior scientists employed as experts, reported RFE/RL. Several of those fired have accused the ministry of trying to destroy the National Museum. Nikoloz Tsikaridze, a senior researcher and archaeologist, linked his and his colleagues' dismissal to the creation of unions by the museum staff on May 19.
8 GEORGIA Country Report June 2022 www.intellinews.com