Georgian Parliament Speaker: Georgia sees no place in an EU that is European “in name only”

Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said Georgia does not see its future in a European Union that is European “only in name”, urging the bloc to prove it remains attractive to Georgia by staying loyal to its core values.

Speaking to journalists, Papuashvili criticised the current trajectory of the EU, warning that it is drifting toward what he described as a “civilisational abyss”.

The speaker pointed out that Europe’s identity has shifted significantly throughout history, noting that prior to 1945, Europe wore a fascist face before transforming into a space acceptable to Georgia. He claimed that Europe is currently facing renewed civilisational challenges, suggesting that even the United States has pointed to a decline in European values. Papuashvili reminded reporters of the historical stakes, noting that 300,000 Georgians died when Europe was fascist, and warned that history can change course at any moment.

“Three hundred thousand Georgians died because Europe was fascist. So, no one should forget that history can move in different directions at any time, and everyone must be vigilant. This is why we are being vigilant, and today we are telling the European Union that with the steps they are taking, they are rushing toward a civilisational abyss, distancing themselves from European ideals, and of course, we do not see Georgia’s participation in an EU where only the name is European. Therefore, they must show us that the European Union is still attractive to Georgia. An European Union emptied of European values is simply a union, just like the one we were already in with the Soviet Union”, Papuashvili said.

Concluding his statement, the speaker stressed that the EU must demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the values that originally prompted Georgia to apply for candidacy, following years of what he characterised as a stalled integration process.