We are a founding part of Europe - the fact that Georgia is not a member of the European Union does not mean that Georgia is not Europe or is less Europe than anyone else, - the Speaker of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, stated when presenting a report to the legislative body.

As he noted, membership in the European Union should not give anyone the right to speak to the Georgian people in a mentoring tone and arrogantly dictate what their choice should be.

“The last year has brought fundamental adjustments to international politics. In the wake of the advancement of national interests in the politics of states, it is already clear today that there is no longer a black and white geopolitical world, mechanical labels have become obsolete - pro-Westernism and anti-Westernism, pro-Russianism and anti-Russianism, all kinds of “pro” and “anti” seen in relation to others. Today, there is only one defining criterion - pro-Georgian and anti-Georgian. All “pro-orientations” except Georgian are ultimately non-Georgian, because they distance the country’s policy from its own national interest and turn it into an instrument of someone else’s goals. And this must be said openly, clearly and decisively: in the issues of governing our country, there is no pro-Europeanism or anti-Europeanism, pro-Westernism or anti-Westernism, pro-Russianism or anti-Russianism. There is only Georgianism and anti-Georgianism, loyalty to national interests and betrayal of national interests.

Europe for us is not a geopolitical project or bureaucratic unity, but a value and civilizational space that has been created by the hands of Georgians. A space that has historically had various political and institutional forms. The European Union is one of the manifestations of Europe. It is neither the first nor the last. The fact that Georgia is not a member of the European Union does not mean that Georgia is not Europe or is less Europe than someone else. Therefore, we cannot expect a mentoring tone from Brussels or any other capital of the European Union when it comes to European values. Values ​​that Georgia has often stood alone in defending during the most difficult periods of history”, Papuashvili said.

According to him, “the main responsibility for the current tension in relations between Georgia and the EU lies with those European rulers who have made this relationship a hostage to their own political agenda.”

“We don’t like this. This situation must change. Brussels knows very well what steps need to be taken to return relations with Georgia to the dignified framework in which they should develop. First of all, the EU must respect democracy, that is, the rule of people. To impose political will on the Georgian people from the outside, or to try to create a surrogate for the “Georgian people” instead, is a blatant denial of democracy. With its current policy, Brussels is an obstacle to Georgian democracy, not a facilitator.

Secondly, the EU must respect the rule of law. Brussels has lost more than enough battles with the Georgian judiciary in international courts to still arrogantly question its decisions today. It lost in Strasbourg in the cases of Saakashvili, Melia, Gvaramia, Akhalaia, and Rustavi 2; It lost in the Paris and Washington arbitrations in the Khazaradze case. In all those cases that had been presented as political persecution for years, the law finally said something else. After that, repeating the same accusations is no longer defending the rule of law, but simply political propaganda. Therefore, Brussels must finally and clearly confirm its commitment to the rule of law and distance itself from violence and politically motivated crimes as a tool for policymaking. Finally, the disinformation and anti-Georgian rhetoric emanating from Brussels and other EU capitals must stop. Partnership is impossible where political narratives dominate instead of truth. If the EU really wants to improve relations with Georgia, the way is simple: respect the Georgian people, respect their democratic choice and respect the values ​​that are called European values. There is simply no other way,” Papuashvili said.