EU has finally called things by their real name in its report, former diplomat Gigiadze

Former Georgian diplomat Gigi Gigiadze tells Front News the European Commission’s 2025 enlargement report on Georgia is the harshest and most realistic assessment Brussels has ever issued, marking a collapse of the country’s EU integration prospects under the current government.

– The European Commission’s 2025 enlargement report on Georgia was extremely critical, describing democratic backsliding and stalled integration. The Georgian government called it unfair and politically motivated. From your diplomatic experience, how should such wording be understood?

– This is the harshest report the European Union has ever produced about any of its partner countries. Even those of us expecting criticism were stunned by its severity. It is an entirely accurate reflection of the situation in Georgia today - the EU has finally called things by their real name.

This reality was created by the self-proclaimed authorities of Georgian Dream. It is commendable that the EU did not overlook a single nuance or detail, and that the report clearly identifies where the regression is most catastrophic. It also directly names who is responsible - the Georgian Dream party. I believe such a report is unprecedented, not only for a candidate country but globally, in the history of EU assessments.

– Despite the criticism, EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński said the EU’s door remains open to Georgia. How do you interpret this?

– The European Union never burns bridges. It is not an organization driven by confrontation or aggression. The EU is not the Georgian Dream; its values are the exact opposite of Russian-style totalitarianism.

This message was addressed to the Georgian people. The EU’s door remains open to Georgia and to the youth who have stood for months on Rustaveli Avenue. But under the Georgian Dream, that door is physically closed - the government has crossed every red line and point of return. Under its rule, Georgia will not move closer to the EU.

– Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze says the main threat is not sanctions but political pressure. If the government refuses to change course, what leverage does the EU still have?

– The EU has instruments - sanctions and other mechanisms. True, consensus among member states can be challenging, but options exist. However, any real rapprochement between the EU and Georgia is inconceivable under this government. The Georgian Dream is not the political force that can lead the country along a European path.

– The government claims it continues working toward EU membership by 2030, yet there’s talk of removing Article 78 from the Constitution, which enshrines EU and NATO integration. Why these mixed messages?

– The government is testing public reaction. They would gladly remove Article 78 if possible. But it no longer matters - even with that article in place, they have already violated the Constitution many times. They have done everything to distance Georgia from the EU.

This debate is a PR distraction. The November 4 report itself is evidence of unprecedented regression. They have crossed constitutional lines repeatedly, not only regarding Article 78.

– Several US senators and congressmen recently sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging action against Georgia’s government. What are your expectations for US-Georgia relations?

– This is a very important signal. The current government cannot build a working relationship with Washington - and they know it. Still, they pretend normalization is possible.

We expect progress on initiatives such as the MEGOBARI Act and other positive measures. Georgian Dream’s claims that they can “reset” ties with the US are simply false.

– During his visit to China, the Prime Minister emphasized strategic partnership, the “One China” policy, and the Middle Corridor. How does this appear to Western partners amid worsening EU relations?

– The Middle Corridor matters to the EU only when its partners are trustworthy - and that trust no longer exists under Georgian Dream. Without reliability, the corridor loses its strategic value.

Whatever Kobakhidze says, China’s interest in Georgia also depends on our relationship with the EU. If ties with Brussels continue to deteriorate, relations with Beijing will not prosper either.

– The Prosecutor’s Office has launched criminal proceedings against opposition leaders under charges of “sabotage” and “conspiracy against the state.” How does this affect Georgia’s international reputation?

– This marks the consolidation of a classic dictatorship. The self-proclaimed authorities no longer hide their intent to keep political opponents imprisoned for as long as possible. It mirrors exactly what we see in Russia and Belarus - and, unfortunately, this is now Georgia’s reality.

By Elza Paposhvili