Georgian Parliament official: EU will have to moderate its rhetoric toward Georgia as ties with US deepen

Zviad Shalamberidze, the First deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Regional Policy and Self-Government, on Tuesday expressed confidence that the European Union would eventually have to take certain steps and tone down its rhetoric toward Georgia as relations between Tbilisi and Washington deepen and evolve into a strategic partnership.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Shalamberidze said decision-making within the European Union was slowed by bureaucracy, resulting in delayed responses to major issues.

"We are observing the extent to which bureaucracy dominates the European Union, both in the Council of Europe and the European Parliament, and how difficult and delayed the decision-making process has become. Resolutions are adopted on issues that may have occurred last year or even the year before, which shows that these institutions are not adequately responding to current realities. The only issue to which they appear to react quickly is the Russia-Ukraine war. Let me remind you how long discussions lasted over approving the €90 billion package for Ukraine, he said.

“It was eventually approved, but it took months of debate over whether and how to provide the assistance. Even now, only 10% of that amount has been disbursed. In other words, every issue within EU institutions is significantly prolonged due to bureaucracy. Therefore, I do not believe the EU will immediately follow the steps taken by the United States. However, I am confident that once relations between Georgia and the United States deepen and develop into what can be described as a strategic partnership, the European Union will have to take certain steps and reduce its rhetoric toward Georgia”, Shalamberidze concluded.