Georgian PM warns of identity crisis in EU, calls for fairer treatment at EPC Summit

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze took part in a high-level roundtable discussion on “Strengthening Europe’s Security and Democratic Resilience” during the European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana.

According to the Georgian government’s press office, Kobakhidze emphasized in his speech the importance of a strong Europe for a strong global order, calling recent trends in European politics “alarming.” He warned that many European nations are facing an identity crisis, and as a result, Europe is losing its ability to be a strong global player and to protect its partners.

Using the war in Ukraine as an example, Kobakhidze underscored the severe consequences of conflict and stressed that in such conditions, countries cannot rely on credible security guarantees.

The Georgian PM also spoke about his country’s achievements and called for an end to what he described as “unfair treatment” of Georgia by European institutions. He argued that Georgia outperforms several EU candidate countries across multiple criteria, and said that this unequal approach harms the credibility of European institutions.

Kobakhidze expressed hope for substantial changes within Europe, saying these are essential for ensuring a rules-based international order.

The roundtable discussion was co-chaired by the Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom and Sweden. It featured participation from the leaders of Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Armenia, and Estonia, as well as the Presidents of Greece, Ukraine, the European Council, and the European Parliament, along with the Secretary General of the OSCE.