The European Union regrets Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s statement on the Georgian Dream’s decision not to pursue the opening of EU accession negotiations and to reject EU financial support until 2028, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said in a joint statement on 1 December.
They said the announcement “marks a shift from the policies of all previous Georgian governments and the European aspirations of the vast majority of the Georgian people, as enshrined in the Constitution of Georgia”.
“We recall that the Georgian authorities’ course of actions and democratic backsliding led to the de facto halt of the accession process already in June this year and that financial assistance from the EU directly benefiting the Georgian authorities is currently on hold,” the statement said.
Kallas and Kos also condemned the violence against peaceful protesters, saying that it would have “direct consequences on our relationship”. They said all acts of violence must be investigated and those responsible held accountable.
The statement also said the EU was looking forward to the OSCE/ODIHR final report on the irregularities which took place in the run up and during the recent Parliamentary elections and its recommendations.
“The EU stands with the Georgian people and their choice for a European future. The door to the EU remains open and the return of Georgia to the European values and the EU accession path is in the hands of the Georgian leadership,” Kaja Kallas and Marta Kos concluded in their statement.
The new Head of the European Council, President António Costa, wrote yesterday on X that he had a call with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili together with Kaja Kallas. “Actions of the government run counter to the will of the people,” he said.
