Georgian Foreign Minister: Georgian Gov’t has not halted EU integration process - if EU opens accession talks, Georgia will join process

Georgian foreign minister Maka Botchorishvili on Monday said the ruling Georgian Dream party has not suspended the country’s integration process with the European Union, calling such claims false.

Botchorishvili noted that this very important issue became a “plaything” for domestic opposition parties, some representatives of civil society and non-governmental organisations, as well as for certain foreign actors.

“The issue of European integration has become a tool. For us, it is not a tool. This was our foreign policy task and is the foreign policy goal of our country. When we saw that this very issue was being used against the interests of our country, against the sovereignty of our country, we made a loud statement that you cannot use this issue as a tool”, the minister said.

She further reviewed the process of opening accession talks with the European Union, stressing that the decision lies with EU member states rather than with the country seeking membership.

The top Georgian diplomat emphasised that the Georgian government has not stopped the EU integration process and would engage in negotiations if the EU decides to open them.

“The Georgian government has not halted integration with the European Union. We have said that we want EU integration. If the European Union decides to open accession talks - which is a decision for the EU side - of course we are ready and will join the negotiation process”, she continued.

Botchorishvili added that in June 2024 the Council of the European Union decided to suspend political dialogue with Georgia, which meant that accession talks would not be opened at that time.

“When such accusations are made, there should at least be some basis. If the dialogue was already suspended, what exactly did the Georgian Dream stop? How can you stop something that has already been suspended?” the minister concluded.