Political dialogue with Georgia was suspended in 2024 by Brussels’ decision, not Georgian Dream’s – Maka Bochorishvili
Minister of Foreign Affairs Maka Bochorishvili answered questions from the “For Georgia” faction in parliament through an interpellation.
According to her, since 2014, as an associated partner country of the European Union, Georgia has achieved visible progress in all directions thanks to the efforts of the “Georgian Dream” government, which, according to her, was also recognized by the European bureaucracy and granted the country candidate status in 2023.
According to Bochorishvili, Georgia’s progress is confirmed by all reports of the European Commission, which were prepared and published in Brussels until 2025.
According to the minister, the suspension of political dialogue with Georgia in 2024 was a decision of Brussels, not of the “Georgian Dream”. According to him, on July 9, 2024, the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Pavel Herchinsky, explained that by the decision of the European Council of June 27, the process of Georgia’s accession to the EU was suspended.
According to Bochorishvili, EU membership is a historical, cultural and identity-based aspiration for the majority of Georgian citizens and aims to ensure the country’s security and prosperity.
According to him, the statements, threats and blackmail made regarding Georgia’s European perspective harm the process and constitute an attempt at manipulation.
The minister noted that on November 28, 2024, the Georgian government stated that it would not allow the country to be in a “regime of permanent blackmail and manipulation.”
In the same context, referring to the statement of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Bochorishvili noted that Georgia’s goal is to become a member state of the European Union by 2030 and will take all necessary steps to achieve this goal.
According to him, the opening of negotiations may be used as an instrument of political pressure, while the main importance is attached to the completion of the process. According to the minister, Georgia will be economically ready to open negotiations by 2028, which will create the prospect of joining the European Union in 2030.
Bochorishvili also noted that the decision to open negotiations with a candidate country is made by the Council of the European Union, and not by the candidate country itself.