French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a message of support to the Georgian people ahead of the first anniversary of Georgia’s candidate status for EU membership. In his address, Macron stressed that Georgia’s European aspirations should not be betrayed and that peaceful demonstrations must not be suppressed with excessive force.
“Dear Georgian friends,
On the eve of the first anniversary of Georgia’s candidate status, I deemed it important to convey this message through this short video. First and foremost, I want to tell you that the betrayal of the European aspirations of the Georgian people, as written in Georgia’s constitution, is unacceptable. Georgia’s European dream must not be extinguished. This choice of the European path is your sovereign decision, and it is peacefully expressed today in Tbilisi and in several other cities of the country. With the granting of candidate status, the European Council gave a positive response to this aspiration. This choice entails fulfilling certain obligations over time. The path is clear, and Georgia now has the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with the 27 EU member states to confidently build this European future, or it can wait and delay, but what is there to wait for, and why?
Let me return to what this European choice represents. The European Union does not impose its will. Europe offers a path of equal partnership, in pursuit of well-being and shared values. Europe does not intimidate, does not use threats. Europe does not seek to sow chaos, destabilize its neighbors, or force them into submission through war or hybrid methods. It does not try to sow division or confusion among its citizens. The European Union respects the sovereign will of peoples, their histories, and identities, such as the thousand-year-old history of the Georgian people. The EU does not dictate what national interest should be. It respects territorial integrity, particularly that of Georgia. The EU does not support separatists in your country. The EU represents a peace project that has been the foundation of Europe since its inception. The EU has never waged aggressive war against a sovereign state. Yes, Europe is solidarity, a choice of peace, the collective defense of shared strategic interests in one family. Europe is not blackmail—it is the acceptance of rules as a means of resolving disputes.
It is Georgia’s decision to determine its future. But for that, the voice of the Georgian people must be heard and respected.
Finally, I want to tell you again that we stand by you in support of your European and democratic aspirations. Georgia cannot hope to progress on its European path if peaceful demonstrations are suppressed with disproportionate force, if civil society organizations, journalists, and opposition party members are persecuted, or if freedom of expression and assembly are not respected. I want to believe that there is a way forward in line with the country’s European aspirations, a path of open and respectful dialogue with all political forces and civil society organizations. This dialogue is the responsibility of every Georgian. It should give the Georgian people the opportunity to take their destiny back into their hands. This path is yours. That’s why I have great trust in the Georgian people, and great trust in all those who cherish this honorable European path and do not wish to succumb to fear, propaganda, cyberattacks, or manipulation of information.
Long live the friendship between Georgia and France, and long live Europe!” Macron stated.
