Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on Thursday that his country will suspend negotiations on its bid to join the European Union for the next four years. The statement came after his reappointment by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which secured victory in last month’s parliamentary elections.
While reaffirming Georgia’s long-term commitment to EU integration, Kobakhidze stated that the issue of starting formal negotiations would not be on the agenda until the end of 2028. He also declared that Georgia would reject any EU budgetary grants during this period.
The announcement sparked widespread protests, with thousands of demonstrators gathering outside the parliament building in Tbilisi and in other cities.
The European Union had granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023, contingent on the country meeting certain reforms. However, earlier this year, the EU suspended Georgia’s accession process and halted financial aid due to concerns over the government’s adherence to democratic principles.
The European Parliament responded by passing a resolution on Thursday condemning last month’s parliamentary elections and calling for new elections to be held under international supervision within a year.
