Papuashvili Criticizes EU, Kobakhidze Warns of 'Deficit of Sovereignty' in Europe
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Georgian Dream Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili has sharply criticized the European Union, accusing Brussels of pressuring Georgia and undermining its sovereignty. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze echoed the criticism, arguing that Europe itself suffers from a "deficit of sovereignty."
In a social media post, Papuashvili said Georgia's path to EU membership must not come at the expense of peace or national identity. While the goal of joining the Union is "a safer and more secure future," he warned that the journey could be damaging if handled recklessly.
"Knowing the coordinates of a safe harbor means nothing if, on the way there, the ship and its passengers are caught in a storm," Papuashvili wrote. "Our main concern is that, on the path to the EU, we do not damage or destroy ourselves physically or spiritually to the point that, upon entering the EU, we have nothing left to protect."
He accused the EU of demanding escalation with Russia, funding extremism, interfering in elections, slandering Georgia, and "meddling recklessly and shamelessly in the millennia-old values of Georgians." According to Papuashvili, such actions contradict the Union's identity as a peace project.
"Painted propaganda-like Europeanness is not enough," he wrote. "True Europeanness is needed, meaning integrity, fairness, strength, and restraint - exactly the kind that the founding fathers of the European Union had 75 years ago."
Speaking to journalists about Papuashvili's statement, Prime Minister Kobakhidze said European institutions are weak and influenced by outside forces. "European bureaucracy has not proven strong enough to protect Europe's objective interests," he said. "This has one main reason: European bureaucracy is essentially controlled by external influences. As a result, they struggle to make decisions based on objective interests."
Kobakhidze described this as Europe's biggest challenge. "The deficit of sovereignty is the main issue across Europe. Only a few states within the EU remain that steadfastly defend their independence and sovereignty," he said.
He also rejected what he called a "false dilemma" in which EU membership is presented as requiring Georgia to compromise. "When they present giving up our values or peace as a condition for EU membership, indirectly hinting at all this, it is a false dilemma," he said. "We want to join the EU while maintaining peace, fostering development, and preserving traditional values. We will not deviate from these principles."
