Shalva Papuashvili says it is better to be a candidate state on paper than a state that exists only on paper

“It is far better to be a candidate state on paper than a state that exists only on paper,” Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili said today, responding to EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, who earlier claimed Georgia’s EU candidacy remains purely nominal.

Addressing Kos’s remarks about European standards, Papuashvili questioned the Commissioner’s definition of European identity.

“Marta Kos said that Georgia needs to return to European values, which is somewhat baffling. Georgia stands firmly on Christian values. If Commissioner Kos finds fault with Christian values, she should tell us precisely what issue she has with them. Our country is built on Christian values, and it is our firm belief that Christian values are genuinely European values. So, if Madam Kos has a problem with Christian values, she should clarify in what respect she finds them problematic,” Papuashvili said.

Turning directly to the Commissioner’s metaphor regarding Georgia’s accession status, the Parliamentary Speaker rejected the criticism, framing the government’s stance as a defence of national sovereignty and peace.

“As for being a candidate on paper, she can use this artificial figure of speech as often as she likes, but the answer remains the same: it is better to be a candidate state on paper than to be a state on paper,” Papuashvili stated.

“That is precisely what would have happened had we listened to Marta Kos and other Brussels bureaucrats and chosen escalation: we would today find ourselves in the situation of Ukraine and Moldova. Moldova has faced economic stagnation for years, while Ukraine has suffered years of war. Both of those scenarios simultaneously threatened Georgia had we listened to Brussels.”