Hundreds of people waved the European and Georgian flags

Hundreds of enthusiastic Georgians flooded the streets of Tbilisi on Saturday, passionately waving European and Georgian flags in a hopeful pro-EU demonstration.  With just a week to go before the European Union summit, where Georgia's candidate status will be decided, these demonstrators sent a strong message of support for their membership in the European family.

Among the participants was Georgia's pro-European President Salome Zourabichvili, who underlined the importance of unity among the Georgian people at this crucial time. "The unity of Georgians is of decisive importance to secure our path towards the EU," organizers said in a statement, quoted by dw.com. 

The decision to be taken on 14 and 15 December at the EU summit is eagerly awaited in Georgia. Despite the optimism expressed by the president, there are concerns about possible opposition, especially from European leaders influenced by various geopolitical interests.

Georgia, a former Soviet republic with a long history under moscow's influence, has applied to join the EU following russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Despite demands for reforms, including in the electoral, judicial and media fields, the European Commission recommended in November that Georgia be granted candidate status.

With around 80% of the population supporting EU and NATO membership, Georgia's aspiration for a shared European future remains a strong sentiment and is reinforced in the country's constitution. As hopes and expectations mount ahead of the summit, its outcome is poised to significantly shape Georgia's trajectory in the years ahead.