Georgia wants EU integration without UNM returning to power, PM

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said Georgia wants to continue its European integration while preventing what he called “agents” from returning to power, accusing EU officials of seeking a change of government as a condition for progress towards membership.

“We want both - to ensure that agents are not in power and to continue European integration,” Kobakhidze told journalists on Monday.

He claimed that EU officials had warned before Georgia’s 2024 parliamentary elections that the country’s European integration would face problems unless the government changed. He specifically accused EU ambassador Paweł Herczyński of supporting a return to power of what the ruling party calls the “collective United National Movement”, referring to opposition groups associated with the former governing party.

“If the collective National Movement returns to power, believe me, nothing will remain of European integration,” Kobakhidze said.

The prime minister also said Georgia had increased implementation of commitments under its EU Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) from 60-65% to 90%.