EU Enlargement Commissioner Urges Georgia to Change Course, Drawing Sharp Criticism From Ruling Party
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said the European Union will continue to support civil society and independent media in Georgia, stressing that the country's future on the European path depends on changes by the government. She made the remarks in Brussels while responding to a question from the editor of Euroscope about what Georgia should expect from the European Council's upcoming conclusions and how it could return to the European trajectory amid the current political situation.
"We will continue supporting civil society and independent media, because this is very important, not only to give hope to the people, but also to tell the government that they are wrong if they do not take the people's will into account," Kos told journalists.
She said she could not comment in advance on the European Council's conclusions but pointed to the European Commission's latest enlargement report on Georgia. "In this report, we state that Georgia is experiencing a democratic regression unlike any other country," Kos said. "We expect that if the country wants to move forward on the European path, they need to act differently. This concerns the government."
Kos added that the European Commission remains committed to supporting democratic actors in Georgia and expressed hope that the country would reverse course. "I truly hope that Georgia's government, with the support of your people, will return to the European path, but of course, that is in their hands," she said.
Her remarks drew an angry response from the ruling party. Gia Volski, first vice-speaker of the Georgian Dream parliament, accused the EU official of hypocrisy and of promoting policies he claimed would drag Georgia into conflict. "Marta Kos's statement is exemplary for showing how to teach a lesson or give a lecture on hypocrisy," Volski told journalists.
Volski argued that international assessments show Georgia outperforming many EU member states politically and economically, and claimed that despite this, Kos continues to push a line that threatens Georgia's stability. He said European officials now openly argue that Ukraine is fighting on behalf of Europe and claimed that similar expectations are being placed on Georgia. "They openly say that Georgia needs a government that will involve the country in this misfortune," Volski said, adding that Georgian voters have already rejected such policies through elections.
"These statements are all anti-Georgian," he said, insisting that future decisions would continue to be based on what he described as the will and interests of the Georgian people.
Opposition figures, however, welcomed Kos's comments. Grigol Gegelia, secretary general of the opposition group Lelo - Strong Georgia, said the statement showed that Georgia still has a clear opportunity to move closer to the EU if it fulfills its commitments. He dismissed claims that European integration has been suspended by Brussels as false.
"The statement by EU Commissioner Marta Kos once again makes it clear that Georgia had, and still has, every chance and opportunity to move toward the European family at a rapid pace," Gegelia said. He argued that progress depends on reforms long discussed with the EU, including the release of what he described as political prisoners and the holding of new, free parliamentary elections.
Gegelia said the European Union remains open to real integration steps if reciprocal actions are taken by the Georgian authorities. At the same time, he accused the current government of deliberately blocking the country's Euro-Atlantic path. "The door has been slammed shut by Kobakhidze," he said, referring to Irakli Kobakhidze, and claimed Georgia's European integration process has effectively stalled while neighboring Armenia advances its international standing.
