Georgian PM highlights Gov't's “main priority” to join EU

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday said despite “some difficulties”, the “main priority” of his Government was the country’s full membership of the European Union.

Our [the Georgian Gov’t’s] priorities are generally known to everyone. Our main priority is to join the European Union, making continuous progress in this direction. Although there are some difficulties at this stage, we are confident that we will be moving forward consistently and by 2030, Georgia will become a member state of the European Union. Therefore, of course, our main line is absolutely clear and obvious, though there are many nuances, regarding which we need to exchange opinions," he noted.

In his comments to the media in Berlin, where he attended an annual Georgian Ambassadors’ Conference, Kobakhidze emphasised that the EU leaders should show a “pragmatic approach” towards Georgia to ensure the strengthening of relations between Georgia and the bloc.

We [the Georgian Government] expect pragmatic steps to be taken by the EU structures. [...] you have seen that no argument could be made against the bill [on transparency of foreign influence] from them. We have repeatedly offered a public discussion to our partners, but each time we were rejected. Ultimately, everyone saw that the criticism had no ground. In such a situation, it is necessary to show a pragmatic approach towards Georgia to ensure the strengthening of relations between Georgia and the European Union", the Head of the Government pointed out.

Kobakhidze stressed his Government’s main message to international partners was that the relations “need to be rebooted and enhanced” in all directions, adding this approach referred to the United States and the European Union.

A lot of things went wrong” during that period when Kelly Degnan, US Ambassador to Georgia and Carl Hartzell, EU Ambassador to the country, worked in Georgia, as specific “problems and difficulties” arose from then on, the Prime Minister said.  

He further pointed out that his Government was “ready for consultations” on “all issues” with international partners.

I am sure that as soon as the regional and global situation improves, it will directly affect the improvement of relations between Georgia and the European Union and between Georgia and the US. We hope the war in Ukraine [with Russia] will end soon. Ukraine needs peace, and this will be one of the factors that will contribute to the improvement of relations between our country and the European Union and the US", he added.

He also highlighted today’s Ambassadors’ Conference in Berlin, saying he had an interesting discussion with the Georgian Ambassadors abroad, reviewing  “all the future steps” to be taken in order to strengthen the positions of the country in the international arena.