MP Levan Makhashvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on European Integration, stated that everyone in Brussels has already seen that when it comes to national interests, the Georgian government will not be subjected to any blackmail.

Makhashvili commented on Georgia’s exclusion from the EU Enlargement Forum, emphasising that no meaningful discussion on enlargement, the Eastern Neighbourhood, or Black Sea security can be considered complete without Georgia’s participation.

“This is a continuation of the same attitude and accusations we have been hearing from these circles. Without Georgia, no discussion on enlargement, the Eastern Neighbourhood, Black Sea security, or access to mineral resources in Central Asia can truly be complete. Therefore, such discussions are either superficial or semi-effective, because Georgia is not part of them. If they genuinely wish to address the challenges and find solutions, no meeting can be truly comprehensive without Georgia.

I would rather describe the exclusion of Georgia from this format as pressure to push the country into taking steps that align with “their interests.” Whether it’s a forum or a conference, excluding Georgia is part of a strategy of pressure. I believe everyone, including in Brussels, has seen that the government will not succumb to blackmail when it comes to defending our national interests,” Levan Makhashvili told GPB First Channel.