Georgia PM offers no way out of EU accession deadlock in Euronews interview

Key Points:

• Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze reaffirmed his government's commitment to EU membership but blamed the European Commission for the stalled accession process, accusing it of political blackmail and bias.
• Kobakhidze refused to repeal controversial laws on foreign influence transparency and NGO registration, which the Venice Commission criticized as vague and disproportionate, arguing that doing so would violate Georgia's sovereignty.
• Despite nearly 80% public support for EU membership, Georgia announced it would not seek accession negotiations before 2028, a decision Kobakhidze attributed to the European Commission's suspension of political dialogue.
• The European Commission and European Council have cited serious democratic backsliding in Georgia, urging the government to end hostile rhetoric and address key concerns on democracy, rule of law, and media freedom.
• Kobakhidze offered no concrete steps to resolve the deadlock, expressing optimism that the EU will change its approach amid geopolitical and economic challenges, but insisted that mutual agreement on democratic and sovereign principles is essential for progress.