Parliamentary majority leader Irakli Kirtskhalia responded to European Commissioner Marta Kos’s statement that Georgia remains an EU candidate “only on paper”; Brussels says the accession process is effectively stalled.
Irakli Kirtskhalia, leader of Georgia’s parliamentary majority, called the EU’s assessment of the country’s progress a “test of unquestioning obedience.” He was responding to European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, who said Georgia remained a candidate for membership “only on paper.”
Kirtskhalia wrote on Facebook that Georgia seeks EU membership, but not at any cost or to the detriment of its national interests. He urged Brussels to treat the country as an equal state. Kos said the EU’s approach would depend largely on member states’ views and on an enlargement report expected at the end of October.
The commissioner said she wished Georgia were at the same level as Moldova and Ukraine. Interpressnews reported that she had also said the country’s formal candidate status did not reflect the actual state of its accession process.
On Oct. 5, Tbilisi’s mayor said Georgia wanted friendly, partner relations with the EU rather than criticism over its refusal to join sanctions against Russia or open a “second front.” A month earlier, parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili said Georgia could not join the EU unless Brussels changed its policy.
Relations between Tbilisi and Brussels deteriorated after Georgia adopted its foreign-agent law in April 2024. The EU suspended the country’s accession process and froze part of its financial assistance. In November that year, Georgia announced a delay to its EU integration process.