Ruling party head claims Georgia will be “completely ready” for EU membership by 2030

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said Georgia would be “completely ready” to become a member of the European Union by 2030.

In an interview with Imedi TV, Kobakhidze said the country could join the bloc “faster”, based on the progress that “our country has achieved”. 

We are absolutely advanced throughout this region - and we do not mean only Ukraine, Moldova, nor only Bosnia - [but also compared to] Serbia, Montenegro, the states of the Balkan space. Compared to all other states, our country has advanced far in terms of democracy, human rights, economic policy”, he said.

“As for the [EU-Georgia 2014] Association Agreement agenda, we have a plan to complete harmonisation [of the legislation] in the coming years. We think that in 4-5 years we will be ready for the country to join. The rest is a matter of political decision”, the ruling party head continued. 

Kobakhidze also reviewed the country’s eventual EU membership and emphasised the importance of the state of the economy by saying “first you have to grow the economy in order to become a member of the EU”.

We can make a promise that Georgia will be completely ready to become a member of the European Union by 2030. In terms of harmonisation, the state of democracy, the state of the economy”, he noted.

Kobakhidze last week expressed the ruling team’s confidence the country would join the bloc before Ukraine and Moldova.

In his remarks over the prospect of opening accession negotiations with the EU, he noted the decision “must be made” in 2024.