EU faces serious challenges in identity, prosperity, governance, says Georgian PM

Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday reaffirmed his government's commitment to becoming a full-fledged member of the European Union while highlighting the significant geopolitical and internal hurdles currently facing the bloc.

Speaking at the leaders’ panel discussion on the sidelines of the ongoing Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Kobakhidze noted that the global landscape was marked by geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts.

“There are currently two wars taking place in the world. The global landscape is characterised by geopolitical tensions. Conflicts affect everything - trade routes, energy, transport, and economic stability. In such a situation, it is essential to find fundamental solutions”, he said.

The prime minister stressed that Georgia, alongside North Macedonia, shared the goal of full-fledged EU membership, while also closely observing the internal challenges facing the Union.

“We are interested in becoming a full-fledged member state of the European Union. At the same time, we see the challenges the EU itself is facing. These are fundamental challenges. For years, the EU had distinct strengths - a strong identity, high standards of welfare, strong democracy, and the rule of law. However, if we look at the EU today, it faces serious challenges in all three of these areas. This concerns us greatly, and we hope that the situation in the EU will improve in the future”, Kobakhidze concluded.