Georgian Parliament official says Georgia will not follow Ukraine or Moldova EU integration models

Mariam Lashkhi, the chair of the Georgian Parliament’s education, science, and youth affairs committee, on Friday said that Georgia would not follow the integration models currently being discussed for Ukraine and Moldova, emphasising that Georgia’s path to the European Union would not involve sacrificing sovereignty or territories.

Lashkhi’s remarks came in response to a recent Financial Times report detailing growing tensions between Kyiv and Brussels regarding the pace of EU accession.

In her remarks, Lashkhi pointed out that the challenges facing Ukraine and Moldova have reached a point where international discussions suggest compromises that Georgia deems unacceptable.

“The information is not new to Georgian citizens. When we were talking about this, all sorts of inconsistencies were raised, however, we know what it takes to join the European Union. This concerns not only the implementation of directives, but also the social and economic, strategic development of the country, which our country is dedicated to”, the official said.

“In the case of Ukraine and Moldova, unfortunately, it is being said today that Ukraine must apparently cede territories, and that Moldova must apparently renounce its sovereignty altogether and join Romania. We emphasise that Georgia will never share this Ukrainian or Moldovan path toward European integration”, she concluded.