Ruling party MP Samkharadze: EU should engage with Georgia’s elected government

The European Union should engage with Georgia’s elected government if it takes a pragmatic approach, Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Nikoloz Samkharadze said.

Samkharadze was responding to comments by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, whom he said had repeatedly stated that the EU does not approve of the Georgian government and therefore does not engage with it.

“We cannot change the colour of our eyes, our hair or the shape of our nose depending on whether Kaja Kallas or any other politician likes us. This is the government elected by Georgian society,” Samkharadze said.

“Therefore, I believe that, from a pragmatic perspective, the European Union should speak with the government elected by Georgian society,” he added.

Samkharadze’s comments came after EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said discussions were intensifying on how best to prepare the bloc for the admission of new members, without mentioning Georgia in her list.

The European Commission currently lists Georgia as an EU candidate country, while EU officials have repeatedly criticized the Georgian authorities over developments related to democratic standards and fundamental rights.