European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said the EU is open to involving Georgia in regional connectivity projects but is capable of doing so “to the extent that they also show that they want to engage on other areas.”
Remarks came during an April 20 extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, as Kos was responding to a question from Romanian MEP Cristian Vasile Terheș, who asked about prospects of engaging with Georgia, pointing out that the Middle Corridor remains the only viable trade route between Europe and Asia amid war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East.
“When was the last time, for example, when you engaged in a dialogue with the Georgian authorities?” Terheș asked, noting the recent moves of other global actors, including the Tbilisi visit by State Department official Peter Andreoli and a subsequent call between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. “We need Georgia as we need Armenia as we need Azerbaijan. What is your plan to keep them on our side?” the MEP added.
In her response, Kos acknowledged the importance of the Middle Corridor and the role of Georgia in regional connectivity.
“There is no trade route in the north anymore. There are no trade routes in the south anymore. So the best is the Middle Corridor, the Peace Corridor, whatever you call it, and we are engaged,” Kos said.
Kos outlined ongoing EU efforts to strengthen connectivity with countries in the region, including repeated visits to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey.
“I have been many times since we have had the last structured dialogue to Armenia, to Azerbaijan, to Turkey, not to Georgia because of the reasons you have mentioned,” she said. “This connectivity agenda is not just about transport, it is energy, digital, and so on, but energy is also very important because we see that nowadays we are in danger.”
Kos also referenced an EU-backed power grid project linking Armenia and Georgia, noting that “indeed, we can’t speak about the real connectivity agenda without Georgia.”
“So whatever we do there and talk to Armenia, we also consider Georgia,” she said. “We are open to involving Georgia, we will be only capable to involve Georgia to the extent that they also show that they want to engage on other areas,” the Commissioner concluded.
Kos’ remarks on engagement and connectivity follow worsening relations between Tbilisi and Brussels amid the Georgian Dream government’s anti-democratic moves and anti-EU discourse. The EU said in November that Georgia is a candidate country “in name only” and moved to suspend visa-free travel for Georgian holders of diplomatic and service passports.
The comments also come as Georgian officials have expressed hope that, despite the frozen ties, Brussels will have to engage with Tbilisi and consider a “reset,” arguing it’s in the EU’s interest as the bloc seeks alternative trade and connectivity routes.
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