Georgia’s PM Kobakhidze insists EU membership goal for 2030 is realistic

As Georgia prepares for a disputed round of local elections on 4 October, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has doubled down on his country’s strategic goal of joining the European Union by 2030.
The Georgian leader said the path toward EU accession remains “steady and irreversible,” despite ongoing friction with Brussels.

Kobakhidze argued that Georgia has already met its obligations under the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, presenting EU membership as both “realistic and attainable.”
He expressed confidence that the EU will eventually take a “fairer and more merit-based” approach toward Georgia, reflecting the country’s progress on reforms and governance.

The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023 but later froze its membership process and cut financial support in mid-2024, citing democratic backsliding. The suspension followed the adoption of a controversial “foreign influence” law, condemned by critics as Russian-inspired, which triggered mass protests in Tbilisi.

Despite those setbacks, Kobakhidze remains optimistic. After his Georgian Dream party won the general election last October, he initially announced a pause in EU discussions until 2028, accusing some EU politicians of “blackmail.
” However, in recent months, a gradual thaw has reopened channels for renewed dialogue.

In his editorial, Kobakhidze sought to highlight Georgia’s geopolitical role, noting that “20% of our territory remains under Russian occupation” since the 2008 war. Stressing a peaceful resolution to ongoing conflicts, he underscored that “Georgia’s path is European, peaceful, and principled.”

Kobakhidze also took aim at domestic critics ahead of this week’s local elections, which many opposition parties are boycotting. He accused them of using “confrontation” as a tool for destabilization, while praising his party’s record in boosting growth and stability.

“Over the past four years, Georgia has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in the wider European neighborhood,” he wrote, citing the government’s investments in people, infrastructure, and peace.

The October 4 elections are set against a backdrop of political turbulence and mistrust in state institutions. Yet, Kobakhidze’s latest message places Georgia’s European trajectory at the center of both domestic debate and the country’s wider foreign policy strategy.

For Brussels, Georgia’s democratic commitments remain under scrutiny. For Tbilisi, however, Kobakhidze insists that the EU remains the ultimate destination.
“We are doing our part,” he concluded, urging European partners to recognize Georgia as “a country helping to shape Europe’s future.”