Georgian PM: EU bureaucracy externally controlled, real change in relations depends on end of war in Ukraine

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Thursday voiced sharp criticism of the European Union, claiming that its bureaucracy was “entirely controlled from the outside” and has led the bloc into a severe decline.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Kobakhidze noted that if any changes in the EU-Georgia relations could be expected, they could only be linked to the end of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“The sad reality is that European bureaucracy is completely managed from the outside, and they have brought the EU to a dire state. Of course, by inertia, the Union maintains a certain level of prosperity accumulated during 60 years of uninterrupted peace, but the trends are devastating”, the PM said.

Kobakhidze further pointed to the EU’s shrinking role in the global economy, noting that its share has fallen from 30% in 2008 to 17.5% today, adding that the European leaders avoid discussing the economy, which reflects the absence of an independent agenda.

“This is happening because they are entirely controlled from outside forces whose main objective is to destroy Europe - to radically weaken the EU economically and strip it of its identity”, Kobakhidze argued.

He cited migration as a major challenge to Europe’s ethnic and religious identity, claiming that Christianity’s share in Germany has already fallen below 50%.
Kobakhidze concluded by saying that the only potential trigger for changes in EU-Georgia relations would be the end of the war in Ukraine.

“Let’s keep hope that the war in Ukraine will end soon, and if it does, prospects for resetting relations may emerge. We are also in a waiting mode with the United States”, the Government head said.