Georgia calls for mutual respect in EU partnership

Georgia has urged the European Union to adopt a fairer approach to their partnership, insisting that cooperation must be reciprocal.

Speaking to the media, Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili criticised what she described as Brussels’ “unjust” attitude towards Tbilisi, Caliber.Az reports per Georgian media.

She argued that the EU needs Georgia as much as Georgia needs the EU.

“What needs to change from the EU’s side is, first and foremost, the approach. It should be fair when we talk about relations between the two sides, which, unfortunately, we do not see at present. The treatment of Georgia is indeed unfair,” Bochorishvili said.

The minister highlighted that relations between Georgia and the EU should reflect the real needs of both parties. She added that Brussels has demonstrated a “childish resentment” and has avoided meaningful dialogue with Tbilisi, a policy she considered unproductive. Nonetheless, Bochorishvili noted, an increasing number of European capitals are recognising that this approach is unacceptable.

“I am confident that, eventually, this will change, and it should. Recently, dialogue with European countries has become more active: more capitals understand that this is not how one should build relations with a state. I hope even more capitals will question the correctness of Brussels’ policies,” she said.

Bochorishvili also criticised the EU for using the suspension of visa liberalisation as a political tool and a means of pressuring the Georgian people.

“I hope it does not come to that, and that Brussels will revise its approach, recognising that relations with Georgia are mutual and carry significant geopolitical importance. We often emphasise: the need for partnership is not one-sided. It is not only Georgia that needs the EU, but the EU also needs Georgia. There are geopolitical reasons and realities for this that must be acknowledged in Brussels,” she added.

By Aghakazim Guliyev