© EPA-EFE/LESZEK SZYMANSKI POLAND OUT Per Szijjarto, Tbilisi's inclusion would reinforce the European Union.
According to the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, the European Union commits a “major error” by thinking Georgia should be kept separate regarding joining. In his opinion, holding discussions on EU membership with Tbilisi is “considerably more beneficial than with Ukraine,” SOVA reports.
“We are of the view that the European Union is committing a serious blunder in thinking that Georgia should be held at arm’s length from the European Union. As we see it, the situation is clear: Georgia will bolster the EU, and commencing negotiations with Georgia will be far more valuable than with Ukraine, since Ukraine will not only weaken the EU, but will also present a danger to the EU via substandard grain and other commodities,” Szijjártó stated at a news briefing after a meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili.
Furthermore, according to Szijjártó, the emerging global order “will offer a chance to safeguard the sovereignty and autonomy of nations – those nations that prioritize sovereignty and will not permit meddling in their domestic affairs.” He cited Hungary and Georgia as instances of such nations.
“These are nations that did not allow themselves to be drawn into the war, that do not permit outside influences to interfere in their internal political matters, or to act as mere puppets of an external power. This is an ongoing struggle, and we will persist in fighting daily for our sovereignty and independence, particularly as Brussels is heading in different directions,” Szijjártó noted.
It is worth remembering that last year, the EU voiced “grave apprehension about the marked deterioration of the situation in Georgia” in their enlargement assessment. EU Foreign Policy and Security Policy Head Kaia Kallas remarked that Georgia was the sole nation displaying decline on its path toward membership. Tbilisi countered that it deemed the assessment ” baseless” .
Germany previously declared that it was recalling its ambassador to Georgia. The stated justification was that the nation's administration was fostering animosity toward the EU. The EU also affirmed that under the current ruling party, Georgia will never achieve membership in the European Union.