Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has called on the European Union to demonstrate respect for Georgia’s dignity and safeguard the country’s national interests and traditional values, emphasizing the need for mutual respect in Georgia’s pursuit of EU membership.
Kobakhidze made the remarks during a parliamentary session convened to approve his Government, which opposition parties and President Salome Zourabichvili have refused to recognize as legitimate. Members of the ruling Georgian Dream party greeted his comments with applause.
In his speech, the Prime Minister reiterated the Government’s goal of joining the EU by 2030 but stressed that Georgia would only accept conditions aligned with its national interests.
“We are ready to protect and take into account all those conditions that do not contradict the national interests of our country. But there is a line related to dignity, again and again. The European Union must prove that it respects our dignity and supports our peaceful progress towards membership.”
Kobakhidze further emphasized that the EU must demonstrate its commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and traditional values:
“When we talk about moving towards the European Union in peace, it is important that the European Union protects our national interests and traditional values. Therefore, the European Union has something to prove to us.”
The speech reflects a shift in rhetoric by Georgian Dream leaders toward Western partners, with increasing criticism directed at the EU and other allies. Senior officials have previously accused Western forces of attempting to destabilize the country, referencing a so-called “global war party” allegedly seeking to open a “second front” in Georgia. Western representatives have consistently dismissed these claims.
The strained relations have led to significant diplomatic fallout. Georgian Dream leaders, including the Speaker of Parliament and the Prime Minister, have refrained from meeting EU delegations on official visits, while the EU recently announced a suspension of high-level meetings with Georgian government officials.
Although Georgia received EU candidate status last December, the accession process has been described as “frozen” due to political actions by Georgian Dream, including the adoption of controversial laws and shifts in foreign policy.
The stalemate has also resulted in the suspension of financial assistance and joint projects between the EU and Georgian state institutions, further complicating the path to integration.
