Economy Minister: Gov’t actions “prove” Georgia can make progress towards EU integration

Levan Davitashvili, the First Vice Prime Minister and Economy Minister of Georgia, on Tuesday emphasised the Government’s achievements in European integration and expressed confidence in continued improvement of bilateral relations in an interview with media.

On the path of integration with Europe, we have achieved the greatest results the country has ever seen. We have demonstrated through our actions that the country can indeed make significant strides in terms of European integration, and this progress is evident to all”, he said. 

I am confident we will greatly improve our relations. We have not procrastinated; we are in the pre-election period, which unfortunately has taken an unusual form. After the election, emotions will subside, and everything will continue as it was. We will continue to make progress on the path of European integration, just as we have been doing”, Davitashvili added.

The Minister also expressed his concerns regarding a draft resolution of the European Parliament on “democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia”, which last week included demands for sanctioning Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Honorary Chair and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and other officials. He said the introduction of such sanctions would “only harm” the economy of the country without having a “significant negative impact” on the sanctioned party. 

The Minister also highlighted Georgia’s “responsible membership” in the international community and its “exemplary implementation” of major international sanctions, affirming that the country would continue to work in this direction “even though the imposition of individual sanctions would be harmful to the country’s economy”.