European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has called on the Georgian government to listen to its people, engage in dialogue with civil society, and respect the public’s clear desire to join the European Union.
Speaking in Luxembourg ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Kos described the situation in Georgia as worrying and condemned the government’s anti-European rhetoric.
“The people of Georgia have shown in the last three elections, in ongoing protests, and in all polls that they want a European future — not the one their government is pursuing,” Kos stated. “Their government, apparently, doesn’t listen to its own people and doesn’t want to go the European way. The opponents are jailed, and journalists and civil society organizations are silenced.”
Kos also strongly criticized the disinformation campaigns targeting the EU and its member states.
“Disinformation against Europe and the European Union is not only promoted but also led by those in power. We condemn those false narratives and all attacks on European institutions, their representatives, and our member states,” she said.
The Commissioner urged Tbilisi to “be inclusive, talk to civil society, and follow the people’s wish to become part of Europe.”
The EU Foreign Affairs Council, chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, is being held today in Luxembourg. The ministers are discussing the war in Ukraine, developments in Moldova, the EU’s relations with the Indo-Pacific, and the situation in Sudan. A press conference is scheduled for 16:45 Tbilisi time following the meeting.
