European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has reaffirmed the European Union's openness to Georgia despite concerns over the country's leadership shifting away from pro-European values as the country enters its fourth night of protests.

Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday secured European Parliament backing for her new team at the European Commission, paving the way for her to take office at the start of next month amid mounting challenges in Europe and across the Atlantic.

Germany has said it supports Georgians who are committed to European values, as Berlin underlined its concern over the political unrest there. The massive protests of the past few days in Tbilisi clearly show that many people still want a future in the EU,

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants to make the European Union more competitive in her second term as head of the EU executive arm. "Our freedom and sovereignty depend more than ever on our economic strength,