PM Kobakhidze sets 2030 goal for Georgia's EU integration

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze affirmed Georgia's commitment to advancing towards European Union integration, aiming for readiness by 2030.

EU Ambassador Pavel Gerchinsky recently disclosed that EU leaders have decided to freeze funding for the Georgian Defense Ministry and reduce direct government support, redirecting resources to NGOs and media outlets.

This decision was influenced by Georgia's enactment of the "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" law and its perceived anti-Western rhetoric, leading to a suspension of Georgia's association accession process.

"We remain optimistic. By 2030, Georgia aims to be the most prepared among EU candidate countries for integration. We will steadfastly continue our efforts in this direction," Kobakhidze stated, Caliber.Az reports citing Georgian media.

Georgia attained candidate country status for EU accession in December 2023, following Ukraine and Moldova, a progression that Georgian authorities criticized as unjust.

Earlier, President Salome Zourabichvili attributed the postponement of joint US-Georgia exercises and the freezing of financial aid to what she described as the Georgian authorities' swift and confrontational policies.

Relations between Georgia and the West soured in the spring of 2024 following the enactment of the foreign agents law. This legislation drew opposition from several American and European politicians who feared it could curtail freedom of speech and impede the operations of independent media outlets.