Zviad Chumburidze, Secretary General of the EU–Georgia Business Council, has outlined three core values of the European Union that, in his view, define why Georgia should strive to become a full EU member: freedom of choice, rule of law, and free media.
Speaking on BMGTV, Chumburidze addressed the growing skepticism within parts of Georgian society, particularly among supporters of the ruling party, about the benefits of EU integration. His remarks followed the publication of the European Commission’s 2025 enlargement report, which noted a “serious deterioration” in the quality of democracy in Georgia, citing the arrests of opposition leaders, pressure on civil society, and increased violence against journalists.
“In society, especially among supporters of the ruling party, there are people asking: why do we want Europe and the European Union?” Chumburidze said. “Europe is built on three key values. The first is freedom of choice, you must never sell your vote for money or material benefit. When a person sells their vote, they soon sell their soul. Your vote must serve your country’s development.”
He named independent courts as the second essential European value: “A free and fair judiciary is the foundation of democracy. Today, we see that we do not have one. This will eventually become a problem not only for citizens but also for the ruling party and even for judges themselves.”
The third value, Chumburidze stressed, is free media. “Regardless of what information the media provides, it must remain free. Citizens must have the right to choose which opinions to believe and how to analyze information. If we, and especially the ruling party, do not internalize these three values, nothing will come of our European path.”
Chumburidze also reflected on Georgia’s recent history, warning against repeating past mistakes. “We went through this once in 1991, when a national government was overthrown with Russian involvement. We saw the spiritual and physical pain it caused. Why are we repeating those mistakes? Everyone loses - the ruling party, society, our children, and grandchildren. As a diplomat, I deeply regret that 33 years of progress toward Europe have been thrown away with one careless move.”
