The Prime Minister of Georgia claimed “the ball is in the European Union’s court” on the country’s integration and called on the bloc to open accession talks.

“They call on us and do not want to take a step themselves. The ball is actually in their court - let them open the negotiations and we will sign it. What kind of revert are they talking about? Look at the absurdity they are in. This situation that we see in the European Union is very sad”, - said Irakli Kobakhidze.

He further added the EU’s decision to impose travel restrictions on holders of diplomatic passports, in response to his Government’s suspension of negotiations for the opening of EU accession talks and its response to ongoing public protests against the move, was an “openly anti-Georgian decision”: “Hope, the European institutions would refrain from such anti-Georgian actions starting 2025”.