Kobakhidze: The EU is weakening day by day — everything is changing for Georgia

If the regression of the European Union continues in the same spirit, then "the whole situation" will change for Georgia in terms of joining the EU, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on the Georgian First Channel on December 16.

"The European Union is weakening day by day. From year to year it is deteriorating economically, in terms of democracy, human rights, freedom of speech. The situation is very difficult in all areas. If the economic downturn continues, and in terms of democracy, human rights, etc., of course, the reality is also completely changing for us, because our stated goal, including the constitutional task, is that we become a member of the European Union. Under these conditions, we are subjectively interested in the fact that negative trends in the European Union will turn in a positive direction," Kobakhidze said.

He noted that the lack of progress in Georgia's relations with the EU is due to the European bureaucracy's non-recognition of the democratic choice of the Georgian people and Georgian democracy.

"We are ready to discuss all issues, we have said this repeatedly and we can say it again. If there is any reasonable requirement, even if you call it a requirement, condition, requirement, anything, we are ready to consider anything, based on the fact that we have a stated goal — to become a full member of the European Union," Kobakhidze said.

The Georgian authorities suspended the EU accession process in November 2024 due to interference in the country's internal affairs. Since that time, the opposition, with foreign support, has been staging daily protests in the center of Tbilisi. At the same time, Tbilisi periodically declares its readiness to return to EU accession negotiations if Brussels abandons its policy towards Georgia.

On December 15, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that Georgia has such a "setback on the path of European integration that no other country has."

"I would like to appeal to the government: if the country wants to move forward along the European path, it is necessary to act differently. We will continue to support civil society and independent media, because it is important not only to give people hope, but also to tell the government that it is wrong to ignore the will of the people," Kos said.