Georgian PM reaffirms EU membership goal by 2030, rejects Danish minister’s remarks

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has reiterated his government’s “commitment” to preparing the country for full European Union membership by 2030, rejecting recent criticism from Denmark’s foreign minister as “completely inaccurate.”

Speaking to journalists during a visit to Turkmenistan on Tuesday, Kobakhidze dismissed the Danish official’s claim that Georgia had ceased progress on its path toward EU integration.

“We have a declared goal - to fully prepare Georgia for EU membership by 2030,” Kobakhidze said. “I can once again affirm that, among the candidate countries, Georgia will be the most prepared by that time. A great deal is being done, including wide-ranging economic reforms.”

Highlighting economic progress, the Prime Minister noted that Georgia had widened its economic gap with Moldova by over $11 billion in the past four years. “Every reform and initiative we implement is aimed at ensuring Georgia becomes a full EU member,” he added.

In his remarks from Ashgabat, Kobakhidze also underlined Georgia’s strategic importance as a regional transit hub, especially in light of “growing geopolitical instability in the surrounding areas.”

“Historically, Georgia has served as a key corridor between East and West, Europe and Asia,” he said. “Amid current regional conflicts, Georgia remains an island of peace and continues to play a special role in connectivity.”

Kobakhidze stressed the government's determination to expand Georgia’s transit capacity through political, economic, and infrastructure partnerships with neighbouring countries.

“A range of high-level visits, including by myself and the Minister of Economy, have focused on deepening trade and economic ties in the region,” he said. “We are making major investments in infrastructure - roads, ports, airports - to strengthen Georgia’s strategic weight both politically and economically.”