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

As Georgia is heading to disputed local elections on 4 October, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze took the initiative on Wednesday to reaffirm his government’s commitment to the EU membership process.

In an op-ed exclusively written for Euronews, Kobakhidze states that Georgia’s path towards EU membership “remains steady and irreversible” and that Tbilisi's goal of joining the European Union by 2030 is “both realistic and attainable” based on the reforms carried out so far by his government.

The Georgian leader took the occasion to also underline his government’s key point in the strained relations between Tbilisi and the European Union, after both parties hit pause on the South Caucasus country’s EU accession talks.

“I am confident that, in the years ahead, the approach toward Georgia will become fairer and more merit-based, reflecting both the reforms we have undertaken and the tangible progress we have achieved,” he said in the op-ed published on Wednesday by Euronews..

Kobakhidze believes that “Georgia’s strategic importance is growing rapidly” and that the country meets “all obligations under the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU.”

The EU gave Georgia candidate status in December 2023 but halted its membership application process indefinitely and cut financial support last June after the passage of a "foreign influence" law that the bloc considered to be Russian-inspired and authoritarian, on the backdrop of massive anti-government protests in the capital Tbilisi.

After winning the general elections in October, Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would pause discussions on its bid to join the EU until 2028 due to what the prime minister described then as "blackmail and manipulation" from some of the bloc’s politicians.

In an interview with Euronews in November, Kobakhidze said the ball was in Brussels' court, emphasising that he was still "very optimistic" that his country would obtain EU membership by 2030, describing it as a key strategic objective for Georgia. Since then, a gradual thaw between Georgia and the EU has opened a renewed path towards active negotiations.

In his op-ed to Euronews on Wednesday, the Georgian PM took the initiative to underline his country’s position towards Russia by saying that “the Georgian people fully comprehend the profound cost of war — 20% of our territory remains under Russian occupation”.

Then Kobakhidze makes a key statement as to where his government stands in this matter by stating that Georgia “remains unwaveringly committed to pursuing a peaceful resolution, fully acknowledging that peace is the only viable path forward,” but concludes with the clear message that “Georgia’s path is European, peaceful, and principled.”

“We are doing our part. We remain steadfast in reform, committed to our obligations, and focused on delivering results. As our democracy deepens and our strategic role expands, we expect our European partners to see Georgia as a country that is helping to shape Europe’s future,” the Georgian PM said in his editorial.

Georgia is heading towards a disputed local election on 4 October, as the ongoing political turmoil in the country continues to grip it.

A large part of the opposition parties decided to boycott these elections, claiming that the ruling Georgian Dream governing party lacks the legitimacy to run the country following the last general elections.

In his op-ed to Euronews, PM Kobakhidze criticises his opponents by saying that “some political actors, lacking any vision beyond confrontation, are attempting to turn the democratic process into a tool for destabilization.” 

He claims that the trust in the Georgian Dream party “continues to grow” as “over the past four years, Georgia has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in the wider European neighbourhood.”

“But democracy is not only about protest — it is also about performance. And our government’s performance has been clear: we protect economic growth, we invest in our people, and we preserve peace in a challenging region,” the Georgian leader notes.