Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili the European Union’s policy towards Georgia during his visit to Luxembourg, calling for the EU to reconsider its 2024 decision to halt the country’s accession process and accusing the bloc of seeking to influence Georgia’s parliamentary elections.

Speaking on September 24, Papuashvili noted that the EU’s June 2024 decision to suspend Georgia’s integration process had been unjustified and argued that its purpose had been to interfere in the 2024 parliamentary elections. He called for greater dialogue between Tbilisi and Brussels. “We believe the time has come for the European Union to reconsider this wrong decision,” Papuashvili stated, adding that confrontation was not the right way to address disagreements.

According to Papuashvili, Georgia had received a more sympathetic response from Luxembourg’s government and parliament and claimed that dialogue and what he described as fair treatment should guide relations with the EU.

During the same visit, Papuashvili scrutinized the EU Delegation to Georgia over its reaction to the cancellation of the Kamara cultural festival in Gori. Georgian Parliament Speaker accused the delegation of encouraging what he described as hate speech and radical rhetoric. His remarks followed a statement from the EU Delegation affirming its support for freedom of creative expression and recalling its long-standing assistance to Georgia’s cultural sector. The delegation maintained that the EU had supported the preservation of Georgia’s cultural heritage, the development of creative industries and links between Georgian cultural organisations and European partners.

In a separate post from Brussels, Papuashvili opponents of the Georgian government, whom he believed expected Georgian officials to change their positions during visits to European capitals. Georgian Parliament Speaker then further accused them of treating Brussels as a place where Georgian officials should moderate their criticism and argued that government representatives should maintain their positions regardless of where they were speaking.