Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze reiterated Georgia’s commitment to joining the European Union, while voicing strong concerns about what he called “catastrophic trends” within the EU itself, particularly in economic and identity-related spheres.

Speaking on Georgian Public Broadcaster’s “Topic of the Day”, Kobakhidze said Georgia still aims for EU membership but hopes the EU will overcome its internal challenges by 2030.

“The EU’s share of the global economy has dropped from 30% in 2008 to 17.5% today — that’s a catastrophe,” he said, adding that prosperity in the EU is increasingly reliant on the wealth accumulated during decades of post-WWII peace.

He also cited concerns over the influence of what he referred to as the "deep state" within the EU and emphasized that Georgia’s national interests are non-negotiable in any external political dialogue.

“We are ready for dialogue on any issue — but no one should ask us to put our national interests on the line. That is our red line,” the Prime Minister said.

Referring to the controversial “Transparency Law”, Kobakhidze claimed it played a critical role in preventing attempted revolutions and increasing accountability in foreign funding.

“When revolutionary processes became transparent, their momentum weakened. Demanding we repeal this law to reopen those doors is not an acceptable trade-off,” he stated.

Despite criticism, Kobakhidze affirmed that Georgia will continue to meet its obligations under the EU Association Agreement and the DCFTA, while firmly defending its sovereignty.

“We will protect national interests to the end — while continuing to fulfil all our responsibilities as part of our EU integration process.”