PM: Georgia pursues joining EU as full-fledged member, complying rules and fairness principles

“We cannot allow some forces to use the issue of European integration as a tool of blackmail against the Georgian people,” said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in the Leaders Talk program of CCTV, Closed-Circuit Television.

According to the PM, in 2022, Georgia submitted an application for obtaining EU candidate country status that was rejected.

“It took 1.5 years to receive the EU candidate country status. We fought for that. However, this candidate status was used as a tool for blackmail. Later, they started blackmailing us with the issue of opening accession negotiations with the European Union, which is not good because it ultimately caused unrest in Georgia as well.

Georgia pursues joining the EU as a full-fledged member, but we wish to keep on this path in compliance with rules and fairness principles. This is our stance,” he said.