During the Conference of Speakers of Parliaments of the European Union and Partner Countries in Budapest, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili met with Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), for a high-level discussion.

Papuashvili briefed Rousopoulos on the current political landscape in Georgia, including ongoing preparations for the upcoming local elections. A key point of discussion was the continued absence of Georgia’s delegation from PACE, following the January resolution that prompted Georgian MPs to withdraw from the Assembly.

While addressing this issue, Papuashvili reaffirmed Georgia’s strong commitment to the foundational principles and values of the Council of Europe. He emphasized that respect for the will of the people is a cornerstone of democracy, warning that any dismissal of this principle is unacceptable.

Despite the recent tensions, both leaders expressed a shared interest in continuing open and constructive dialogue between Georgia and the Council of Europe.