The Georgian government has announced the suspension of negotiations over the country’s accession to the European Union and will reject any budgetary grants until the end of 2028. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze made the announcement during a briefing on Thursday.
According to Kobakhidze, Georgia aims to be economically prepared to open EU accession talks by 2030. He emphasized that the government remains committed to making Georgia an EU member by that time.
“Our state target is to make Georgia an EU member in 2030, and we will spare no efforts for it,” the prime minister stated. “It is unacceptable for us to consider integration with the EU as a favor that the European Union should grant us.”
Kobakhidze criticized the use of EU membership negotiations as an “instrument of blackmail,” referencing the previous handling of Georgia’s EU aspirant status. He affirmed that the government would fulfill all commitments under the Association Agreement with the EU “without any financial support from the EU.”
Earlier on Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution expressing concern over Georgia’s democratic processes. The resolution described the October 26 parliamentary elections in Georgia as “another manifestation of the country’s democratic decline,” stating that the elections were neither free nor fair. It called for the elections to be re-run under international supervision.
The suspension of EU accession talks and rejection of budgetary grants mark a significant shift in Georgia’s foreign policy approach. As Georgia positions itself for EU membership by 2030, the government’s latest moves highlight a desire for greater autonomy in its integration efforts.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
