On April 28, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that despite attempts to use EU candidate status as leverage against his country, Georgia secured the status, and European integration remains the cornerstone of its foreign policy.

In an interview, Kobakhidze emphasized that although the candidate status was initially wielded as “an instrument of blackmail against Georgia,” the country resisted this pressure and achieved the status. He reaffirmed that European integration “naturally remains the main priority of our foreign policy.”

Kobakhidze further asserted that by 2030, Georgia would be better prepared than any other candidate country to join the European Union. He highlighted that this readiness would encompass democracy, human rights, the rule of law, economic development, and institutional capacity. The prime minister concluded with optimism, stating, “We are very confident about our country’s future in all respects.”