The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, is confident that the European Union will take no action to halt visa liberalization. In an interview with the public broadcaster, Kobakhidze described the statements made by European politicians on this issue as "fictitious conversations."
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"The Georgian people are being threatened because society supported the ruling party. They are talking about punishing the Georgian people for their democratic choice. Of course, these are all completely fictitious conversations. I am confident that no concrete steps will be taken in this direction, particularly because such measures have completely lost their effectiveness.
For a year and a half, the issue of candidate status was used as a tool to pressure the country and destabilize it. In the end, we stood our ground, defended the dignity of this country, and instead of this issue being used for blackmail, we were granted candidate status. Then they moved on to the topic of opening negotiations. This tool has also worn out, and therefore, I believe that it will not happen this year but with very high probability next year, especially since, with a high likelihood, the war in Ukraine will end before that, and negotiations will be opened," said Kobakhidze.
According to Kobakhidze, the main priority for the ruling party is to "continue with dignity" the progress toward European integration.
"We have an ambitious goal: we want to become a member of the European Union by 2030. If we continue in this dignified manner, together with the Georgian people, I am confident that this result is achievable," added the Prime Minister.
During a debate in the European Parliament on November 13, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, stated that in response to democratic backsliding in Georgia, the European Union suspended Georgia's accession process, reduced political contacts, and cut government financial assistance. As Schinas noted, these measures will remain in place until the government changes its course of action.
Two days earlier, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said that the Georgian government needs to make significant changes, even if the country does not lose its candidate status. In the enlargement report published by the European Commission on October 30, it was stated that the Commission will not recommend the start of accession negotiations with Georgia unless the country alters its course.
For months, the European Parliament has been urging the European Commission to assess the extent to which the country meets the visa liberalization criteria. Another resolution with this call is expected by the end of the month."
