Georgian PM claims “ball in EU’s court” on opening accession talks

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday claimed “the ball is in the European Union’s court” on the country’s integration and called on the bloc to open accession talks.

In his remarks over EU enlargement reports, which on Tuesday called on his Government “to urgently revert to the EU path”, Kobakhidze noted “let them open the negotiations, and we will sign it tomorrow”.

They call on us and do not want to take a step themselves. The ball is actually in their court - let them open the negotiations and we will sign it. What kind of revert are they talking about? Look at the absurdity they are in. This situation that we see in the European Union is very sad”, the PM said.

The Government head further added the EU’s decision to impose travel restrictions on holders of diplomatic passports, in response to his Government's suspension of negotiations for the opening of European Union accession talks and its response to ongoing public protests against the move, was an “openly anti-Georgian decision”.

Kobakhidze said he hoped European institutions would “refrain from such anti-Georgian actions” starting next year.

It was explained by foreign media representatives that this step essentially has a symbolic significance. However, for us, this is not just a symbolic step, it is an openly anti-Georgian decision, which is very unfortunate. We hope that, starting next year, such anti-Georgian decisions will not be taken by European institutions”, he continued.

Kobakhidze on Tuesday said he hoped a “practice of blackmail by certain European politicians and officials” towards his Government would “finally end” with the inauguration of the United States President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.