Georgia ready to meet EU’s ‘reasonable’ conditions

ISTANBUL

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said his government is prepared to meet all of the European Union’s requirements, provided they are “reasonable,” media reports said Tuesday.

Speaking after the Foreign Ministry submitted a report on EU recommendations to Brussels on Aug. 31, Kobakhidze noted that the European Commission had asked Georgia to provide information on conditions linked to its visa-free regime, including the repeal of the “foreign agents” law and a ban on what was described as LGBT propaganda.

“We are absolutely ready to fulfill all reasonable demands, but it is necessary to justify that they are really logical. We will then fulfill them all,” he said, according to the report.

“There were certain demands that were logical and we fulfilled them from beginning to end. But there were also unreasonable ones that were not explained why they were necessary,” he said.

Kobakhidze singled out laws on “Transparency of Foreign Influence” and “Protection of Family Values and Minors,” questioning why same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children.

The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023, setting out political and legal conditions for further integration steps.

Brussels has repeatedly emphasized that progress on human rights and democratic reforms will be key to advancing the accession process.

ISTANBUL

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said his government is prepared to meet all of the European Union’s requirements, provided they are “reasonable,” media reports said Tuesday.

“We are absolutely ready to fulfill all reasonable demands, but it is necessary to justify that they are really logical. We will then fulfill them all,” he said, according to the report.

“There were certain demands that were logical and we fulfilled them from beginning to end. But there were also unreasonable ones that were not explained why they were necessary,” he said.

Kobakhidze singled out laws on “Transparency of Foreign Influence” and “Protection of Family Values and Minors,” questioning why same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children.

The EU granted Georgia candidate status in December 2023, setting out political and legal conditions for further integration steps.

Brussels has repeatedly emphasized that progress on human rights and democratic reforms will be key to advancing the accession process.