PM says EU candidate status was used to pressure Georgia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Saturday said Georgia was denied European Union candidate status in 2022 without any explanation, arguing that the decision was used by European institutions as a tool to pressure the Georgian Government.

Speaking on Imedi TV's Open Air programme, Kobakhidze said his Government had consistently demonstrated its commitment to European integration through the signing and implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA).

“It was not only politicians and political activists who reacted. Many ordinary citizens were also dissatisfied with the statement, responded negatively to it and were genuinely outraged. As for the substance and purpose of that statement, I would like to explain it once again. We had gone through a very difficult process before that. Let me remind you that our government remained fully committed to this path and remains committed to it today,” he said.

Kobakhidze noted that Georgia's European integration process gained momentum in 2014 with the signing of the Association Agreement and the DCFTA, which he described as landmark achievements in relations with the European Union.

“We first demonstrated this commitment in 2014, when we signed the Association Agreement. The same applies to the free trade agreement with the European Union. These were two extremely important documents signed with the EU. Before that, we had not achieved any tangible results on this path. The first major step was the Association Agreement, and the second was the DCFTA, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreement with the European Union,” he continued.

The Prime Minister recalled that Georgia submitted its application for EU membership in March 2022, shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“A very difficult process began in 2022. Ukraine was offered the opportunity to apply for candidate status approximately four days after the war began. We were in contact with our Moldovan counterparts on this issue. It would not have been natural for only two countries to submit applications. If Moldova also applied, it was logical for all three countries to submit their applications simultaneously. Ukraine was at war, which is why it was offered this opportunity, and it was important for all three countries to move together”, Kobakhidze said.

He added that the Georgian Government nevertheless decided to submit an application despite concerns that Georgia could be treated differently from Ukraine and Moldova.

“When we received confirmation from Moldova that it would also submit an application for candidate status, we made the decision to proceed, despite having assessed the risks. We openly discussed these concerns within the parliamentary majority. One of our fears was that the decision ultimately taken would be made - that two countries would receive candidate status while Georgia would not, and that this would later be used as a mechanism of pressure against our country”, he said.

“Despite that risk, we believed it was necessary to submit the application in order to clearly demonstrate our commitment and desire for European integration. This was also an expression of the will of the Georgian people”, Kobakhidze added.

The Prime Minister said approximately 5,000 pages of documentation were prepared and submitted as part of the application process.

“We submitted our application at the beginning of March, after which the entire public sector became involved in the process. Around 5,000 pages of documents were prepared and submitted. At that time, there were no 12 recommendations, no nine recommendations and no additional conditions. We were simply required to describe the existing situation in the country and submit a report. A document of approximately 5,000 pages was delivered”, he said.

Kobakhidze also referred to a meeting held in Bakuriani, claiming opposition representatives, NGOs and certain media organisations discussed the possibility of using a failure to grant Georgia candidate status as a catalyst for political unrest.

“In the meantime, the well-known Bakuriani meeting took place, involving foreign participants as well. Unfortunately, representatives of the opposition, NGOs and certain media outlets gathered there and openly discussed the possibility that, if Georgia were denied candidate status, they would use that decision as a basis for launching revolutionary processes”, he claimed.

According to Kobakhidze, those expectations were fulfilled when Georgia was denied candidate status in June 2022.

“That is exactly what happened. In June, Georgia was not granted candidate status, and no explanation followed - absolutely none. You may recall the briefing at which it was said that Ukrainians were prepared to die for Europe. The statement was later posted on social media and then quickly deleted after it became clear that it was inappropriate. Moldova was also granted candidate status. No justification was provided anywhere, nor was any written explanation sent. The only thing we were told was that Georgia would not receive candidate status”, he said.

Kobakhidze argued that the decision confirmed concerns within the Government that candidate status could be used as a political tool.

“In other words, our concern was unfortunately proven correct. Someone wanted to use European bureaucracy and candidate status as instruments of pressure against Georgia. That is how we view what happened. We spent four to five months preparing the application, working intensively from March until June, only to be told 'no' without explanation”, he said.

The Prime Minister also recalled the public reaction that followed the decision, noting that large-scale demonstrations took place after Georgia was denied candidate status.

“Many genuinely concerned citizens took to the streets at that time. In fact, the largest protests up to that point took place after Georgia was denied candidate status without any justification. People were angry not at those who made the decision, but at the government, because there was no explanation whatsoever - neither a written justification nor any objective grounds for the decision”, Kobakhidze concluded.