Russia Responds to Georgia's EU Aspirations for 2030
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, April 25, 2025
Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry, recently questioned whether Georgia's goal of joining the European Union by 2030 is realistic.
"Will those who want to join the European Union by 2030 or any other year have somewhere to join?" Zakharova said, commenting on a statement from a Georgian politician, likely referring to Georgia's ruling political party, Georgian Dream, which had expressed confidence that the country would be prepared for EU membership by the year 2030.
The Georgian Dream political council had earlier stated, "We promise the public that our political team will cope with all challenges with dignity and Georgia will meet the announced EU enlargement by 2030 better prepared than all the other candidate countries."
However, Zakharova voiced concerns over the current state of the European Union, pointing out visible crises and the unpredictable future of the bloc. She suggested that countries considering EU membership should focus on economic realities rather than political rhetoric.
"The crisis events in the EU are so visible, and their potential is so predictable, that those who think about their own national economies have nothing to do there," she argued.
Zakharova emphasized that joining the EU is a sovereign decision for each nation, and those contemplating such a step should be guided by "concrete numbers, not just slogans."
Despite political differences and the lack of diplomatic relations between Russia and Georgia, Zakharova noted that the two countries continue to engage in dialogue. She remarked, "We have repeatedly talked about this with Georgia. We are building bilateral relations with mutual respect and mutual benefit." The ongoing communication, she stressed, remains a priority, even in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.
