Georgian FM says EU integration matter weaponised by opponents

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Tuesday expressed regret that the issue of European Union integration - a matter she described as vital not only for the country’s foreign policy but also for its history, culture, and identity - had increasingly been treated as a political instrument since 2022.

In her interview with the Georgian Public Broadcaster, Botchorishvili noted that it became evident after Georgia’s 2022 bid for EU membership that while integration holds deep importance for the Georgian people, for others it has served merely as a tool in political struggles.

“The bid for [EU] membership reflected the will of the Georgian people and the significant reforms carried out by the Government, which positioned us to seize this opportunity. Then we witnessed the attitude regarding the granting of [EU membership] candidate status. It became clear that EU integration, which is of vital importance for us, was used by others merely as a tool in political struggles. We saw how it was exploited to influence Georgia’s domestic politics. For the opposition, the issue of EU integration even became a form of entertainment”, the FM said.

She further stressed that such an approach undermines Georgia’s relationship with the EU.

“We have made it clear that we do not want this issue to be treated in such a way. For us, it is of the utmost importance, and continuing along this path harms our ties with the European Union”, Botchorishvili concluded.