Georgian PM reaffirms EU membership goal amidst regional peace initiatives at Antalya Diplomacy Forum

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday reiterated his country’s commitment to joining the European Union (EU) in his address at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, emphasizing that regional peace was essential for this integration.​

Kobakhidze acknowledged the challenges faced in the EU accession process but expressed optimism that restoring peace, particularly in neighboring Ukraine, would accelerate Georgia’s integration efforts.

“We have certain challenges in this direction, but we hope that with the restoration of peace in our country and the region, especially in Ukraine, Georgia’s integration will be implemented more intensively”, the official said.

Highlighting the importance of peace for development and international relations, the PM noted, “​the main thing is peace for development, for proper relations between different countries.” He also praised Turkey’s role in promoting regional stability, saying, “​we are very glad that we are implementing this together with Turkey, which is also a country with a peace vision.”​

Looking ahead, Kobakhidze outlined plans to focus on economic development to strengthen Georgia’s regional connectivity and economic position. He concluded, “​peace and prosperity are what we should all focus on.”

This statement comes after Georgia’s decision in November 2024 to suspend EU accession negotiations until the end of 2028, a move that sparked both domestic protests and international concern. The government cited dissatisfaction with the EU’s approach as justification for the delay.