Georgian PM accuses EU of “double-dealing games” with Georgia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday characterised the current state of Georgia-EU relations as being in a “crisis”, claiming that the process of European integration has been weaponised against the country.

In an interview with Rustavi 2 TV channel, the head of Government argued that since March 2022, the prospect of EU membership has been utilized primarily as a tool for political pressure.

Kobakhidze stated that the difficulties in the relationship stem from a single, straightforward cause - the instrumentalization of Georgia’s European aspirations.

“Georgia-EU relations are in a state of crisis for one simple reason: since March 2022, the issue of European integration has been used as an instrument of blackmail against our country”, the Prime Minister asserted.

The Prime Minister went further, accusing the European Union of engaging in a “double-dealing game” rather than maintaining an authentic open door policy.

He suggested that this pattern has been consistent throughout 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Kobakhidze also cast doubt on the sincerity of the EU’s initial invitation to candidate countries following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

“Ultimately, it appears that when Ukraine was first offered to apply for candidate status, and it was logical that Moldova and Georgia would follow, this may not have been intended as an open door policy by the EU, but rather a policy of double-dealing”, he said.

“I have the perception that when the offer was made to Ukraine to apply for candidate status - at a time when Russian tanks had entered Kyiv - I do not believe they [the EU] actually had Ukraine's membership in mind”, Kobakhidze concluded.