The European Union Delegation to Georgia has issued an official statement following the recent meeting between Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maka Bochorishvili, and the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński, emphasizing both the importance of the dialogue and growing concerns over the country’s current political trajectory.
EU Delegation says the meeting was “substantive” and focused on the broader future of EU–Georgia relations. The statement reiterated that the European Union has consistently supported Georgia since independence, contributing to the development of a democratic and prosperous state.
“The EU has shown time and time again that it wishes Georgia to move forward,” the statement reads, noting that EU leaders had unanimously granted Georgia candidate status and that membership remains the best guarantee of peace and prosperity for the country.
At the same time, the Delegation underscored that progress toward EU accession requires “sincere commitment and tangible reforms” aligned with European values and standards. It warned that the current course taken by Georgian authorities risks distancing the country from its European path.
“Persistent anti-EU rhetoric further undermines the credibility of Georgia’s EU aspirations,” the statement said, adding that while EU membership is not imposed, the Union hopes Georgian authorities will not miss what it described as a “historic opportunity.”
The meeting between Maka Bochorishvili and Paweł Herczyński followed heightened tensions after the Georgian Foreign Ministry summoned the EU Ambassador. Ministry announced that Bochorishvili raised concerns that recent steps and statements from Brussels have undermined mutual trust and damaged the Georgia–EU partnership.
The diplomatic exchange was triggered by remarks made by Herczyński during an event at the European External Action Service in Brussels, where he warned that Georgia is “at a crossroads” and that decisions made in the coming months will determine whether the country advances toward the European family or risks returning to a “dark past.” He also cautioned against a regression marked by instability, poverty and corruption.
These comments drew sharp criticism from Georgian officials. On April 23, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused the EU Ambassador of “threatening the Georgian people with civil war and impoverishment,” calling the remarks a direct threat and justifying the decision to summon him to the Foreign Ministry.
Bochorishvili had also indicated that Georgia would respond through diplomatic channels, stating that the Foreign Ministry would formally engage with the Ambassador regarding the issue.
The exchange highlights a deepening strain in relations between Tbilisi and Brussels, even as Georgia formally holds EU candidate status and public support for European integration remains strong.
Related story: Foreign Ministry: Bochorishvili tells EU ambassador Brussels’ current policy undermines trust and damages partnership
