Georgia says it will not enter EU membership talks until 2028, in snub to Brussels
Adds context, quote in paragraphs 2-3,5-14
Georgia accuses EU of blackmail, says it is suspending accession talks until 2028
Georgian Dream has deepened ties with Russia amid EU tensions
EU has been critical of Georgian laws
European Parliament called on Thursday for annulment of October election
By Felix Light
TBILISI, Nov 28 (Reuters) -Georgia's ruling party said on Thursday that the country would suspend talks on European Union accession until 2028, while also refusing budgetary grants from Brussels, after what it said was a "cascade of insults" by the bloc.
In a statement, the Georgian Dream governing bloc said that the EU was using the prospect of accession talks to "blackmail" Georgia, and to "organise a revolution in the country".
As a result, it said: "We have decided not to put the issue of opening negotiations with the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028. Also, we refuse any budgetary grant from the European Union until the end of 2028."
The South Caucasus country of 3.7 million has the aim of EU accession written into its constitution, but relations with Brussels have deteriorated sharply in recent months. The EU has already said that Georgia's application is frozen.
There was no immediate comment from the EU on Georgian Dream's statement.
Opinion polls show that around 80% of Georgians support EU membership, and the bloc's flag flies alongside the national flag outside virtually all government buildings in the country.
Georgian Dream says it wants to join the EU, but has repeatedly engaged in diplomatic feuds with Brussels in recent years, even as it has deepened ties with neighbouring Russia.
Earlier on Thursday, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told journalists that EU membership might harm Georgia's economy, as it would require Tbilisi to cancel visa-free agreements and trade deals with other countries.
Foreign and domestic critics of Georgian Dream say the party, which is seen as dominated by its billionaire founder, ex-prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, is steering Georgia back towards Moscow, from which it gained independence in 1991.
The EU gave Georgia candidate status in December 2023, but has said that a raft of laws passed by Georgian Dream since, including curbs on "foreign agents" and LGBT rights, are authoritarian, Russian-inspired, and obstacles to EU membership.
Western countries have also said that an October election, in which official results gave the Georgian Dream bloc almost 54% of the vote, was marred by violations.
The European Parliament passed a resolution on Thursday calling for the elections to be annulled and re-run, and for sanctions to be imposed on key Georgian Dream figures.
Georgian Dream said on Wednesday it had chosen Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former deputy with a long record of anti-Western statements, as its candidate for Georgia's mostly ceremonial presidency.
Kavelashvili is set to replace the pro-EU incumbent, Salome Zourabichvili, who has repeatedly accused Georgian Dream of deliberately derailing Georgia's EU hopes.
Reporting by Felix Light
Editing by Mark Trevelyan, Andrew Osborn and Frances Kerry
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
