EU’s Kallas: Georgia remains candidate country ‘in name only’ unless conditions change ‘dramatically’

Georgia currently remains a European Union candidate country “in name only”, unless conditions in the country change dramatically, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday, presenting her assessment of the bloc’s enlargement prospects.

She added while the overall assessment was positive for Albania, Montenegro, Moldova and Ukraine, it was “negative for Georgia”.

“Georgia at this stage does not have a viable path toward the EU unless conditions change dramatically. Right now, Georgia remains a candidate country only in name”, Kallas said.

She noted the enlargement process haდ become a geopolitical priority for the EU, especially following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, she stressed that accession would remain a merit-based process that cannot be shortened.

Kallas highlighted that Ukraine and Moldova continue to make progress, while Serbia and Kosovo face political crises that have stalled their EU paths. She also pointed to setbacks in Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia’s lack of constitutional reforms.

“Enlargement is not just a technical process of screening and negotiations, it is a political choice”, Kallas said, underlining the importance of rule of law, anti-corruption reforms and free media for candidate countries.

She added that the EU would continue to deepen cooperation on security and defenცe with partner countries, including Ukraine, Moldova, North Macedonia and Albania, as part of its broader enlargement strategy.