Georgian PM announces Gov’t’s halt of EU accession talks until 2028, refusal of bloc’s grants

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday announced suspension of the country’s European Union accession talks and refusal to receive the bloc’s budget grants until 2028, citing interest in “dignified” integration amid a “cascade of insults and blackmail by European politicians and bureaucrats”. 

In a briefing following the Parliament’s approval of his Government, the PM accused the European Parliament of becoming a “tool of coercion”, citing five resolutions passed by the institution over the past three years that he claimed had been “full of lies and insults” against the Georgian Dream Government. 

The official claimed “ill-wishers of our country have turned the European Parliament into a naked weapon of blackmail against Georgia", and asserted the country’s EU aspirations “must be rooted in mutual respect”. 

Georgia-EU relations, in their essence, are bilateral and can only be bilateral. We are a proud and self-respecting nation with a great history. It is categorically unacceptable for us to consider integration into the EU as a mercy that the EU should grant us”, he said.

The PM also detailed the Government's intention to fulfil “90 percent” of EU-related obligations under the Association Agreement agenda and Free Trade agreement by 2028, with its own funds. 

The key is not when negotiations begin, but when they conclude. Georgia, despite starting talks on the Association Agreement, free trade, and visa-free travel later than Ukraine and Moldova, achieved these milestones either earlier or simultaneously with them”, he said.

Similarly, Montenegro and Serbia began EU accession talks in 2012 and 2014, respectively, yet their integration progress has not accelerated. Turkey, which started negotiations in 2005, saw them terminated by the EU in 2016”, the Government head added..

We intend not to enter the EU begging and standing on one leg, but to join it with dignity, with a functioning democratic system and a strong economy”, the official pledged.

Pointing to events last year, when Georgia was granted the bloc’s candidacy, Kobakhidze said “we all recall how the issue was weaponised to pressure Georgia, sow chaos, and divide our society”. 

Against the backdrop of the outbreak of war in Ukraine, at a time when Georgia needed peace the most, certain European politicians and bureaucrats exploited the issue of candidate status in an attempt to incite a revolution in our country”, he claimed.

He further criticised EU-funded organisations for their involvement in what he described as an “attempt to destabilise” the country. 

For nearly two years, the issue of candidate status was used as a primary tool to fuel radicalism and so-called polarisation in Georgia, reflecting an unhealthy approach towards our nation”, the PM said. 

Kobakhidze further accused unspecified EU officials of using financial aid and the candidate status the country gained last year “as tools for political manipulation”, claiming attempts to interfere in Georgia’s elections and incite polarisation of the domestic political scene. 

We observe that European politicians and bureaucrats are using allocated grants and loans as a tool for blackmail against Georgia. For instance, we all recall their attempt to cancel a €75 million loan just weeks before the 2021 elections to illegitimately influence the outcome”, he alleged.

A similar tactic was employed ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections, but it had no impact on the Georgian people’s decision. Using financial resources for blackmail is not only inappropriate but also an affront to the dignity of the self-respecting Georgian people, and such practices will never be accepted”, he said. 

The official highlighted the process between aspiring countries  starting accession negotiations to them successfully joining the bloc could “technically only take 1.5 to two years”, but added “no plans currently exist to expand the EU eastward before 2030”.

While affirming his Government’s commitment to European integration, Kobakhidze highlighted the country's resolve to “maintain sovereignty” in its decision-making. 

We will continue to move towards the EU. However, we will not allow anyone to leave us in a regime of constant blackmail and manipulation, which is completely offensive to our country and society”, the PM said. 

The official concluded by claiming the country would be “ready” for EU membership by 2030, adding it would be “more ready than all candidate countries” to join the EU. 

Georgia will become a member state of the EU only in peace, dignity, and prosperity”, he added.

The PM further highlighted his team “firmly believe that Georgia, with its rich culture and immense potential, can contribute to and enrich the EU just as much as the latter can enhance Georgia”.