Georgian President's Pro-EU Stance Clashes with Government Decisions to Halt Accession Talks

In an interview published on December 25, 2025, with Imedi TV, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili reaffirmed the nation's unwavering commitment to its European trajectory. He firmly stated that Georgia has no intention of abandoning its path toward European Union membership. Kavelashvili, who assumed office on December 29, 2024, emphasized that the current political climate does not jeopardize the prospect of accession. He views the EU as a vital mechanism for the further strengthening of the Georgian state. The President stressed that national interests and a sense of justice must guide any consideration of Georgia's European future.

These presidential remarks stand in stark contrast to the significant political turbulence generated by recent government actions and critical feedback originating from Brussels. A major divergence in official messaging stems directly from a decision made by the Georgian government in November. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced in November 2024 that discussions regarding EU accession negotiations would be paused until the close of 2028. He justified this move by accusing Brussels of engaging in 'blackmail' following the general elections held on October 26, 2024. Furthermore, Kobakhidze declared that Georgia would decline all EU budgetary grants until that date, asserting that the country would not join the bloc while 'begging' for entry.

President Kavelashvili's position, which previously favored dialogue rooted in 'mutual respect' back in December 2024, and which he described as unfavorable toward the EU in late 2025, is now juxtaposed against the rhetoric of other high-ranking officials. Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has publicly noted a 'civilizational gap' separating Tbilisi from the European Union. Simultaneously, officials within the Georgian Ministry of Defense, who signed a joint statement, characterized European and Euro-Atlantic integration as the 'only path' for enhancing national security—a principle already enshrined in the country's Constitution.

Official institutions within the EU have voiced serious apprehension regarding these developments. In a November 2025 report, the European Commission concluded that while Georgia officially retains its candidate status, there has been substantial regression across critical areas, particularly concerning the rule of law and fundamental rights. European Commissioner Marta Kos stated bluntly that the candidate status for Georgia has become 'a mere formality,' arguing that the authorities' actions have effectively frozen the accession process. The European Commission is urgently pressing for a policy reversal and a return to reforms centered on the mandated nine key steps. Financial assistance has also been impacted: by the close of 2025, the EU will withhold financial aid, following the cessation of direct aid exceeding 120 million euros earmarked for economic reforms in 2024.

Consequently, as 2025 draws to a close, Georgia's strategic orientation toward the European Union remains entangled in a complex political discourse. Official assurances are currently at odds with concrete governmental actions and severe critiques from Brussels, which point toward an 'unprecedented rollback' of democratic progress within the nation.