Ruling majority leader Kirtskhalia: Brussels using ‘Soviet methods’, EU integration raises questions over sovereignty

Joining any international union involves a degree of relinquishing sovereignty, as membership requires countries to comply with a range of obligations under treaty agreements, Georgian Parliamentary Majority Leader Irakli Kirtskhalia said.

“Given the direction Europe is taking today, there is little point in talking about sovereignty, because Brussels is now operating according to the best Soviet methods,” Kirtskhalia said on Imedi LIVE.

Kirtskhalia was commenting on the results of Iceland’s recent referendum on whether to resume negotiations on EU membership. The referendum, held on August 29, asked voters whether accession talks with the European Union should be resumed.

He also criticised EU officials, including Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, over their approach to democracy.

“For Marta Kos, Kaja Kallas and today’s Brussels, democracy works the other way around - it means minority rule over the majority, and no one will accept that,” Kirtskhalia said.

Asked about a statement by an EU representative in Geneva that Georgia’s legislation needs to be changed, Kirtskhalia questioned whether the official was properly informed about the country.

“They probably handed this statement to him; he probably has no idea which country he was talking about. This also points to the worn-out scenarios and entrenched bureaucracy that, unfortunately, prevail today,” he said.