Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Georgian Parliament, attended the 150th session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, where he engaged in discussions with a delegation from the French Senate and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Swiss Parliament, Laurent Wehrli.

During his meeting with the French delegation, Samkharadze focused on the topic of Georgia-EU relations. He shared that the French delegation noted the challenges of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has complicated the EU enlargement process and negotiations with all candidate countries, including Georgia. Samkharadze emphasized the importance of Georgia's continued pursuit of European integration, even as EU enlargement remains a long-term goal, with discussions about accession now focused on 2030. He acknowledged that, at present, Ukraine and regional security have become higher priorities than enlargement, but underlined that Georgia must persist on its European path.

Samkharadze also brought up Georgia’s unique geopolitical challenges in his conversation with the French representatives, stressing that Georgia cannot be compared to NATO members like Estonia. He pointed out that Russian troops are stationed just 35 kilometers from Georgia's capital, and the country lacks both security guarantees and economic solidarity. Samkharadze called on France to consider these realities in both the context of Georgia’s EU integration and bilateral relations.

In his meeting with Swiss representatives, Samkharadze discussed the situation in Georgia’s occupied territories, including Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. He updated his Swiss counterparts on recent developments and expressed Georgia’s concerns. Samkharadze acknowledged Switzerland's role in representing Georgia's interests in Russia and vice versa, and he praised Switzerland’s continued commitment to addressing the occupation as a priority in its foreign agenda. He appreciated Switzerland’s efforts to play a constructive role despite the complexities of the situation.

The discussions underscored the importance of international support for Georgia as it navigates complex geopolitical challenges and seeks closer integration with Europe.