Georgia Suspends EU Accession Talks, Rejects Grants Until 2028
The Georgian government has announced the suspension of negotiations over the country’s accession to the European Union and declared it will reject any budgetary grants until the end of 2028. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze made the announcement during a briefing on Thursday, signaling a significant shift in Georgia’s approach to European integration.
“We will be adequately prepared economically for opening EU accession talks by 2030,” Kobakhidze stated, emphasizing the government’s focus on strengthening the nation’s economy independently before resuming negotiations.
According to the prime minister, the issue of opening EU membership negotiations has been “used as an instrument of blackmail,” drawing parallels to previous experiences during the process of granting EU aspirant status to Georgia.
“Our state target is to make Georgia an EU member in 2030, and we will spare no efforts for it. It is unacceptable for us to consider integration with the EU as a favor that the European Union should grant us,” Kobakhidze remarked, highlighting Georgia’s desire for a partnership based on mutual respect and equality.
Despite suspending negotiations and rejecting financial support, Kobakhidze affirmed that the government would fulfill all commitments under the Association Agreement with the EU “without any financial support from the EU.” This decision reflects Georgia’s determination to pursue reforms and align with European standards independently.
The announcement comes on the heels of a stern resolution adopted by the European Parliament earlier on Thursday. The resolution criticized the October 26 parliamentary elections in Georgia as “another manifestation of the country’s democratic decline,” declaring that the elections were neither free nor fair. The European Parliament called for the elections to be re-run under international supervision.
The suspension of talks raises questions about the future of Georgia’s relationship with the EU and its commitment to European integration. Observers will be watching closely to see how this development impacts the country’s political landscape and its aspirations on the international stage.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
