Georgian PM Kobakhidze says EU membership path remains 'steady and irreversible'

By&nbspEuronews

Published on 01/10/2025 - 12:41 GMT+2

As Georgia is heading to disputed section elections connected 4 October, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze took nan inaugural connected Wednesday to reaffirm his government’s committedness to nan EU rank process.

In an op-ed exclusively written for Euronews, Kobakhidze states that Georgia’s way towards EU rank “remains dependable and irreversible” and that Tbilisi's extremity of joining nan European Union by 2030 is “both realistic and attainable” based connected nan reforms carried retired truthful acold by his government.

The Georgian leader took nan juncture to besides underline his government’s cardinal constituent successful nan strained relations betwixt Tbilisi and nan European Union, aft some parties deed region connected nan South Caucasus country’s EU accession talks.

“I americium assured that, successful nan years ahead, nan attack toward Georgia will go fairer and much merit-based, reflecting some nan reforms we person undertaken and nan tangible advancement we person achieved,” he said successful nan op-ed published connected Wednesday by Euronews..

Kobakhidze believes that “Georgia’s strategical value is increasing rapidly” and that nan state meets “all obligations nether nan Association Agreement and nan Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area pinch nan EU.”

The EU gave Georgia campaigner position successful December 2023 but halted its rank exertion process indefinitely and trim financial support past June aft nan transition of a "foreign influence" rule that nan bloc considered to beryllium Russian-inspired and authoritarian, connected nan backdrop of monolithic anti-government protests successful nan superior Tbilisi.

After winning nan wide elections successful October, Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would region discussions connected its bid to subordinate nan EU until 2028 owed to what nan premier curate described past arsenic "blackmail and manipulation" from immoderate of nan bloc’s politicians.

In an question and reply pinch Euronews successful November, Kobakhidze said nan shot was successful Brussels' court, emphasising that he was still "very optimistic" that his state would get EU rank by 2030, describing it arsenic a cardinal strategical nonsubjective for Georgia. Since then, a gradual thaw betwixt Georgia and nan EU has opened a renewed way towards progressive negotiations.

In his op-ed to Euronews connected Wednesday, nan Georgian PM took nan inaugural to underline his country’s position towards Russia by saying that “the Georgian group afloat comprehend nan profound costs of warfare — 20% of our territory remains nether Russian occupation”.

Then Kobakhidze makes a cardinal connection arsenic to wherever his authorities stands successful this matter by stating that Georgia “remains unwaveringly committed to pursuing a serene resolution, afloat acknowledging that bid is nan only viable way forward,” but concludes pinch nan clear connection that “Georgia’s way is European, peaceful, and principled.”

“We are doing our part. We stay patient successful reform, committed to our obligations, and focused connected delivering results. As our populist deepens and our strategical domiciled expands, we expect our European partners to spot Georgia arsenic a state that is helping to style Europe’s future,” nan Georgian PM said successful his editorial.

Georgia is heading towards a disputed section predetermination connected 4 October, arsenic nan ongoing governmental turmoil successful nan state continues to grip it.

A ample portion of nan guidance parties decided to boycott these elections, claiming that nan ruling Georgian Dream governing statement lacks nan legitimacy to tally nan state pursuing nan past wide elections.

In his op-ed to Euronews, PM Kobakhidze criticises his opponents by saying that “some governmental actors, lacking immoderate imagination beyond confrontation, are attempting to move nan antiauthoritarian process into a instrumentality for destabilization.” 

He claims that nan spot successful nan Georgian Dream statement “continues to grow” arsenic “over nan past 4 years, Georgia has emerged arsenic 1 of nan fastest-growing economies successful nan wider European neighbourhood.”

“But populist is not only astir protestation — it is besides astir performance. And our government’s capacity has been clear: we protect economical growth, we put successful our people, and we sphere bid successful a challenging region,” nan Georgian leader notes.