“Just as we did in Belgium, here too we once again expressed our concern over the European Union’s decision in June 2024 to unilaterally suspend the integration process. I believe the time has come for the EU to reconsider this wrong decision. Confrontation cannot be the right path,” Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili told journalists during his visit to Luxembourg.

According to him, “the answer is never confrontation; the answers are always found through discussion.”

“I am visiting Luxembourg for the second time. My first visit to Luxembourg was four years ago. I am pleased that, at the invitation of the Speaker of the Luxembourg Parliament, we are here with a delegation of the Georgian Parliament.

“We met with the Speaker of the Luxembourg Parliament, members of parliament, and committee chairs. We discussed, of course, our bilateral relations, including bilateral parliamentary relations, and, naturally, in this context, we also discussed relations with the European Union.

“Just as we did in Belgium, here too we once again expressed our concern over the European Union’s decision in June 2024 to unilaterally suspend the integration process. This was not a correct, justified, or fair decision. Moreover, at the time, I believe the purpose of this decision was to interfere in Georgia’s elections and exert influence.

“However, I believe the time has come for the European Union to reconsider this wrong decision, because it is a fact — and I think this is precisely what being European means — that confrontation cannot be the right path.

“The European Union is based on dialogue, justice, and discussion. Today, when some of its leaders are trying to turn the EU integration process into an instrument of confrontation, this is wrong. Therefore, we are pleased that the position of the Luxembourg government, as well as that of the parliament, coincides with our position in this regard: fair treatment is the main principle that EU institutions should follow, and dialogue and discussion are the only right path. The answer is never confrontation; the answers are always found through discussion.

“Today, we had the opportunity to discuss many issues with our colleagues.

“As for their views on the current reality between Georgia and the European Union, they are naturally concerned, because Georgia, as a candidate country, is currently being prevented from fully participating in the processes necessary for this integration.

“The Luxembourg government, the Foreign Minister, and the parliament — we have also had opportunities to communicate with them on other occasions — are acting as a European country should, by asking questions and not simply following ready-made answers provided by various politically interested groups.

“Therefore, we are pleased that, through Luxembourg and its parliament, we have a friend who understands our situation, starting with our difficult geopolitical circumstances, and supports our aspirations for European integration,” Papuashvili said.

According to him, a meeting of EU foreign ministers will be held in Luxembourg in two weeks.

“Just as in Brussels, here too we asked our colleagues to work with EU institutions when they have contact and engagement with them, to convince them that the only right path is the path of fair dialogue.

“The European Union was created, by its very nature, to overcome confrontation. When confrontation is the main principle guiding political decisions for some today, this is, in itself, anti-European.

“We hope that representatives of the Luxembourg and Belgian parliaments, through representatives of their executive authorities, will work with EU institutions in this regard and convince them to return to the path of dialogue,” Papuashvili said.