EU security cannot be ensured without peace and stability in its neighbourhood, says Georgian Foreign Minister

Within the framework of the Delphi Economic Forum held in Greece, Georgia's vice prime minister and minister of foreign affairs Maka Botchorishvili on Friday participated in a working session titled - Protection that Enlargement Provides: Security as the New Pillar of Accession.

In her speech, the minister addressed the strengthening of European security and emphasised that discussions on the topic should not separate the European Union from countries outside it, as the EU’s security cannot be ensured without peace and stability in its neighbourhood.

“First and foremost, when discussing security, we must consider the challenges we face. When speaking about European security, we should not separate the EU from non-member countries, as we share common needs and security interests. Looking at the developments in Georgia in 2008 and earlier, as well as the impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine on the European security architecture, it becomes clear that EU security cannot be guaranteed without peace and stability in its neighborhood. At the same time, Georgia’s security cannot be considered independently of EU security. Therefore, when it comes to security, we must think and act together”, Botchorishvili noted.

The foreign minister highlighted that the Black Sea region and the South Caucasus are critically important for European security, adding that modern security is no longer limited to the military dimension and requires a broader, multidimensional approach.

“Today, security is no longer defined solely by military power and capabilities; it also encompasses economic resilience, connectivity, and sustainable development. If we look at the map, we see a subtle but critically important line for Europe running through the Black Sea region and the South Caucasus. This is a vital region for European security, and we view ourselves as part of the European security architecture. This is an important factor that must be taken into account when shaping European security”, she stated.

Botchorishvili dedicated a significant part of her speech to Georgia’s European integration process.

“Georgia’s path toward European integration is firm. It is part of our identity and a historic choice. It is a values-based decision”, she said.

The FM stressed that the enlargement process should be viewed in a broader geopolitical context.

“Enlargement is a geopolitical process and a necessity. It should not fall victim to narrow bureaucratic approaches, as this undermines its core idea. Enlargement is not an end in itself - it is a tool used to achieve a greater goal: ensuring common security and peace”, the minister noted.

Botchorishvili further focused on the security challenges facing Georgia, including Russia’s occupation of Georgian regions and the complex geopolitical environment.

“Despite an extremely difficult geopolitical environment, we have managed to maintain peace and stability in the country, protect democratic institutions amid repeated attacks, and ensure sustainable development, which implies stable economic growth”, she said.

In conclusion, the minister noted that Georgia would continue taking relevant steps to lay a solid foundation for EU membership.

“We continue to advance development and reforms that are essential for the country in order to ultimately create a strong foundation for EU accession, which is the choice of Georgia and the Georgian people”, Botchorishvili said.