Georgian PM discusses EU integration with Latvian, Estonian, Icelandic, Lithuanian foreign ministers

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday discussed the country’s European integration and the progress achieved by Georgia on this path with the visiting foreign ministers from Latvia, Estonia, Iceland and Lithuania, Baiba Braže, Margus Tsahkna, Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir and Gabrielius Landsbergis.

At the meeting, the sides emphasised the importance of opening accession talks with the European Union, after receiving the bloc’s membership candidate status last year, the Government Administration said.

The efforts of the Georgian Government in the direction of rapprochement with the EU and the role of the support of international partners on the integration path were also pointed out by the officials.

Kobakhidze highlighted Georgia as “a leader among” the EU candidate countries “in all areas”, including democracy, the rule of law, human rights and economic development, and stressed the EU should react to these developments with “appropriate steps”.

The conversation also touched on the controversial law on transparency of foreign influence, adopted by the Georgian Parliament on Tuesday. Kobakhidze explained to the FMs that the mentioned law “aims to strengthen state sovereignty” and stipulates “only one thing” - transparency and annual declaration of funding of non-governmental and relevant media organisations.

Kobakhidze emphasised his Government was ready to listen to “substantive opinions” regarding the law and would reflect legal comments in the law within the framework of the veto procedure.