Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Moldova and Ukraine are ahead of Georgia only in negative indicators, responding to European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos’s statement that the two countries are ahead of Georgia on the path to European integration.
“If Moldova and Ukraine are ahead of Georgia in anything, it is only in negative indicators. God forbid that we overtake Ukraine and Moldova in all of this,” Kobakhidze said. “We have our own path - the path of peace and economic development - and we will definitely continue along this path.”
As part of the 2026 Enlargement Package, the European Commission is preparing indicative roadmaps for prospective candidates Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine. Regarding Georgia, Kos has again said that the country remains a candidate only on paper.
Kobakhidze said Georgia’s European integration would continue smoothly if the European Commission adopts a “healthy” approach toward the country. He added that Georgia has fulfilled around 90% of its obligations under the Association Agreement and free trade agreement and is “thousands of steps ahead” of Ukraine, Moldova and other candidate countries in certain areas.
