Georgian Parliament Speaker: Euronews interview perfectly illustrates the EU’s refusal to engage in genuine dialogue with Georgia

“Brussels has chosen the confrontation path over dialogue, representing un-European behaviour that has increasingly dominated EU foreign policy in recent times,” Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili told journalists.

According to Papuashvili, the EU foreign policy spokespersons and commissioners are increasingly oriented toward escalation, confrontation, and belligerent rhetoric, which fundamentally contradicts the EU founding principles.

“This marks a regression to the rhetoric of a century ago, which is deeply disappointing on the part of the EU,” Papuashvili noted.

Papuashvili stated that the interview with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze at the Euronews EU Enlargement Summit in Brussels clearly illustrates the current state of relations between the EU and Georgia.

The Speaker argued that, instead of conducting a substantive discussion, the interviewer resorted to accusations and refused to listen to opposing views.

“It was very revealing to watch the presenter, who, in my view, provided the clearest visual proof of where the problem lies. What we witnessed was a Prime Minister consistently calling for dialogue and putting forward our case, contrasted with a host listening to no one but herself. On every issue, rather than engaging in a substantive debate, she resorted to accusations and convincing herself of her own righteousness. I believe this served as a vivid demonstration of current EU–Georgia relations: Georgia calmly advocating for dialogue and substantive discussion while presenting its national interests, contrasted with the EU, in this instance embodied by the interviewer, speaking through accusations, rejecting dialogue, and refusing to hear anyone but itself,” Papuashvili said.