PM views Georgia-EU relations status as “not quite positive,” but says Georgia is interested in value-based cooperation

“We are ready to cooperate with the European Union and various countries of Europe. However, value-based cooperation between the two sides is significant,” said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze during a panel discussion at the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) in Dublin.

According to the PM, the current status of Georgia-EU relations is “not quite positive,” though Georgia is interested in changing the situation.

“We are closely following ongoing developments in Europe. It is truly essential for us that Europe also preserves its traditional values. In this regard, we observe negative trends, for instance, adverse developments linked to migration, as well as negative tendencies concerning the ethnic and religious identities of various European countries. For us, these developments raise concern, but the foremost reason for which we believe that Georgia is a European nation is values, traditions and Georgia’s European culture.

Another issue I would like to draw your attention to is Georgia’s strategic role, especially in terms of connectivity. Here, too, we see negative events for Europe that negatively affect the European economy. We see that Europe lost concrete routes to the East, while Europe’s link with Asia is important to strengthen its economic opportunities.

In this situation, Georgia and the South Caucasus region remain the only route towards the East. That is why, in terms of the economy, maintaining close cooperation and strong ties between the European Union and Georgia is of utmost importance for both Georgia and Europe. Georgia connects seven landlocked countries to the Black Sea and, consequently, to the western part of the world, that is, to Europe.

We are ready to cooperate with the European Union and various countries of Europe. The European Commission rejected to open accession negotiations, while later in June 2024 it decided to halt political dialogue with Georgia. Currently, the status of Georgia-EU relations is not quite positive, though Georgia is interested in changing the situation. However, once again, value-based cooperation between the two sides is significant. If both sides are willing to see a strong, democratic Georgia with a European mind and economically steady, I am confident we will reach the goal,” he said.