Georgian Parliament Speaker: EU’s approach towards Georgia reflects broader incompetence of Brussels’ foreign policy

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday criticised the European Union’s approach toward Georgia, arguing that Brussels violated international law by imposing visa requirements on holders of Georgian diplomatic passports and has increasingly politicised discussions related to Georgia’s visa-free travel.

In his remarks, Papuashvili commented on the recent meeting between Georgian and European Commission delegations held within the framework of the visa dialogue.

“I would like to remind everyone that Brussels violated international law when it imposed visa requirements on holders of diplomatic passports. By doing so, it breached the 2010 international agreement between the European Union and Georgia. In this regard, the European Union itself is violating international law while at the same time lecturing others about compliance with it”, he said.

He claimed that Brussels subsequently adopted regulations specifically targeting Georgia in an effort to justify its decision, introducing political considerations into what he described as a technical visa policy framework.

“Then, in an attempt to somehow cover up this violation, they adopted special regulations tailored specifically to Georgia. They abandoned all reason and the logic of visa policy and invented rules that apply only to Georgia, allowing them to demand virtually anything from us under the guise of so-called democratic development. They can make up absolutely anything. They can tell us which laws to adopt and which not to adopt, whether we should stand on our left foot or our right foot, and so on. This once again demonstrates the deplorable situation to which Brussels has brought the European Union - turning it into a violator of international law”, Papuashvili noted.

The Speaker also suggested that the Brussels bureaucracy was acting in a manner that ultimately harms the European Union itself, expressing hope that EU officials would avoid decisions that could further undermine confidence in the bloc’s policies.

“Everything they have done so far has only harmed themselves. They have damaged only the European Union and public trust in the EU. So, if they want to continue shooting themselves in the foot, they are free to do so. The European Union’s approach towards Georgia is a microcosm of the incompetence that characterises Brussels’ foreign policy”, he said.

During the meeting held within the framework of the visa dialogue between the Georgian and European Commission delegations, the Georgian side presented its positions.

Georgia once again reaffirmed its readiness to continue constructive cooperation with the European Union based on mutual respect, equality and shared interests.