Georgia halts EU talks until 2028 as tensions with parliament rise

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobachidze announced on Thursday that Georgia is pausing discussions with the European Union regarding membership until 2028. He also mentioned that the government will forego EU budget grants during this period.

According to the NewsGeorgia service, by the end of 2028, Georgia "will be economically prepared to commence discussions on EU membership," as stated.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament, in a non-binding resolution adopted on Thursday, called for sanctions and limited contacts with the Georgian government by the EU. According to the chamber's assessment, EU restrictions should include members of the government, including its head, Irakli Kobachidze.

MEPs also condemned Russia for interfering in the election process in Georgia. They warned that if the Georgian authorities attempt to prohibit political parties, it would lead to further isolation of the country and hinder Georgia's efforts to join the EU.

According to the EP's assessment, the Georgian elections were neither free nor fair, suggesting that Georgia is straying from the democratic path of the rule of law, for which the ruling Georgian Dream party is fully responsible.

The resolution stated that the results of the elections presented by Georgia's Central Election Commission are unreliable and do not reflect the will of the Georgian voters; therefore, they should be repeated within a year.

Also on the same day, the Georgian parliament, which comprises solely deputies from the ruling Georgian Dream, unanimously accepted the composition of the new government. The opposition is not participating in the chamber's work as it does not recognise the results of the October parliamentary elections.

Source: PAP