Georgian PM confident of 2030 EU membership if European bureaucracy becomes fair

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday said his Government was committed to aligning its standards with those of the European Union across all sectors, including education and healthcare, with an aim for full-fledged EU membership by 2030.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Kobakhidze emphasised that meeting certain conditions, particularly concerning a robust democratic system, was crucial for EU accession.

The PM further asserted that Georgia's democratic system is strong and comparable to, or even surpasses, those in many EU member states in terms of democracy, media pluralism, freedom of speech, and assembly.

“We have a robust democratic system that is no less developed than those in the EU. If you look at trends in many EU member states, it is evident that in areas such as democracy, media pluralism, media freedom, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly, we even have advantages over several EU countries - perhaps even the majority. As for democracy and human rights, we are already prepared to become an EU member state, and by 2030 we will meet all criteria”, he said.

He also highlighted Georgia’s leading position in terms of economic growth.

“We rank first in Europe and the broader region in terms of economic growth. Ultimately, when the decision on EU accession is made, the level of economic development will be the main parameter - and we are leading in that regard. Economic growth brings greater welfare, and social issues are also crucial in the accession decision. In this respect, too, we will be most prepared to join the EU”, Kobakhidze continued.

The PM further added that Georgia's readiness for EU membership was based on tangible indicators and domestic trends - “the rest depends on Brussels”.

“At this stage, we see a completely unfair approach from the European bureaucracy. If this unfair approach is replaced by a fair one, then nothing will stand in the way of our EU accession by 2030. Let’s see how European bureaucrats and officials respond. From our side, we will do everything necessary to become a full-fledged EU member state”, he concluded.