Ruling Georgian Dream party MP reaffirms Georgia’s commitment to European integration

Tornike Paghava, the Deputy Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on European Integration, said on Monday that Europe’s greatest strength had always been its ability to forge unity amid diversity by bringing together sovereign states on the basis of shared principles, equal rules and mutual respect.

Addressing the inter-parliamentary conference, EU Enlargement: A Strategic Agenda for Europe’s Future, organised by the Albanian Parliament, Paghava highlighted the importance of EU enlargement, describing it as a crucial instrument for strengthening peace and stability.

He added that peace and stability were essential prerequisites for Georgia’s democratic development, economic resilience and European integration.

“Today, as we find ourselves in an era of profound geopolitical transformation, EU enlargement is entering a significant phase. For Georgia, European integration is not merely a political goal; it is a historic choice and a reflection of our firm commitment to a shared European future”, Paghava said.

He stressed that the Georgian Government’s aspiration to join the European Union remained steadfast.

“We continue to fulfil the obligations undertaken under the Association Agreement to bring our country ever closer to European standards. Furthermore, we have committed to implementing more than 90 percent of the obligations outlined in the Association Agreement by 2028”, he added.

“Nevertheless, EU enlargement entails far more than merely meeting technical criteria; it is a crucial instrument for strengthening peace and stability. Our vision is clear: merit and security reinforce one another”, Paghava continued.

The lawmaker further underscored that, for Georgia, the issue of enlargement was inseparably linked to the country’s security environment.

“Twenty percent of our internationally recognised territory remains under Russian occupation, while Georgia is not a member of NATO’s collective security system. Consequently, peace and stability are not merely abstract concepts for us; they are essential prerequisites for our democratic development, economic resilience and European integration. Our priority is to maintain peace, prevent escalation and pursue de-occupation through peaceful means”, Paghava said.

He noted that the Georgian Government did not seek to benefit from European security without contributing in return, and expressed readiness to play a meaningful role in strengthening the continent’s security.

“Through our active participation in missions conducted under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, including the EU Training Mission in the Central African Republic, where we are the largest per-capita contributor, we have demonstrated our readiness to share responsibility with our European partners”, he noted.

Paghava concluded by emphasising that “today, relations between the EU and Georgia require more dialogue, not less; greater engagement, not isolation”.