Georgia says European Commission report reviewing Tbilisi’s EU accession process ‘biased’

ISTANBUL

Georgia on Tuesday accused a European Commission report released earlier in the day assessing the country’s progress in EU accession talks of being “biased,” claiming it seeks to influence the South Caucasus nation’s internal politics.

“It is regrettable that the Commission’s report is biased with regard to Georgia when assessing a range of events. However, it is not surprising given the persisting silence of the EU institutions with regard to events that took place in Tbilisi during the municipal elections held on 4 October 2025,” said a Georgian Foreign Ministry statement.

The statement referred to protests that took place in the Georgian capital following local elections in the country early last month, involving thousands and an attempt to storm the Orbeliani Palace, the presidential residence.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze accused protesters of a coup attempt and vowed that “no one will remain unpunished,” while all five of the rally’s organizers were detained and later charged on Oct. 6 with attempting to overthrow the government.

The EU did not immediately comment on Kobakhidze’s accusation, though its diplomatic service had said in July that the bloc "firmly rejects and condemns the disinformation and baseless accusations by the Georgian authorities regarding the EU’s role in Georgia."

In the Foreign Ministry statement, Georgia expressed concern over the enlargement report being used to “articulate groundless negative assessments” on the country and to “spread further political speculations.”

Conveying the report’s purpose of reflecting the progress and work of EU candidate countries, Georgia said the 27-member bloc refused to hold any talks over the past year, as envisaged in an association deal inked between Tbilisi and Brussels in 2014.

“Against the background of improving Georgia’s positioning in various global indexes, … serious questions arise regarding objectivity of assessments given in the Commission’s report,” it said, expressing concern over the “actions and statements of the EU institutions” regarding Tbilisi, which it claimed seek to influence the country’s internal politics.

“We condemn all attempts directed towards using the issue of EU accession as a political instrument, which harm the relations between the EU and Georgia,” it added, noting the country’s commitment to its deals with the bloc and its obligations under the 2014 association agreement.

“The government of Georgia as a responsible and reliable partner reaffirms its readiness for constructive, respectful and mutually beneficial cooperation with the EU – based on shared values and principles, and not on coercion,” it said.

The statement also criticized a joint readout by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos over creating “ground for misleading interpretations.”

The joint readout published earlier in the day said that Georgia currently has no “viable path” toward the EU “unless conditions change dramatically,” adding: “It is now a candidate country in name only.”

Earlier Tuesday, Kos described 2025 as a “good year for our work with candidate countries” during a presentation at the European Parliament, noting “significant” advances on the EU path achieved by multiple countries during this period, including Moldova and Ukraine.

Georgia has been an EU candidate country since 2023. The country's ruling Georgian Dream party in November 2024 paused EU accession talks until 2028, protests against which have continued since.