Prime Minister of Georgia criticised the European Union’s decision in June 2022 to reject the country’s bid for being granted a membership candidate status, calling the move “unfair and unjustified”.

Irakli Kobakhidze argued those currently protesting the delay domestically and abroad were targeting the Government instead of criticising the EU for rejecting the country’s candidacy in 2022.

“The exact same people who are protesting our decision today protested against us then. They did not protest the EU’s decision, which lacked any explanation or justification. They protested against the Government. For these individuals, protesting is an end in itself. It does not matter who made the decision.

The EU had continued to refuse Georgia’s candidacy despite numerous requests from the Georgian Government… For a year and a half, we literally begged them to grant us candidate status. They did not grant it - in December, nor in the spring. They artificially delayed our country, and the Government was labelled as not pro-European”, - said the Prime Minister.

He further criticised the EU’s approach in December 2023, claiming the issue of candidacy had been used as a “tool of blackmail” before the country obtained it in late December of last year: “But now, this year, the blackmail has resumed with the topic of opening of accession negotiations. Once again, they claim we are not pro-European”.