The Chairman of the Committee on European Integration, Levan Makhashvili, addresses the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly with a letter explaining why the Georgian Parliament delegation refrained from participating in the 12th plenary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan.
As Makhashvili notes, the ruling team is “concerned about the actions of some European Parliament members involved in the work of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, as well as the European Parliament as a whole, whose hostile rhetoric and actions contradict the principles of partnership and mutual respect.”
Furthermore, according to Makhashvili, the majority of partner countries are not participating in the plenary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, which “should serve as a serious indication that the European Parliament’s current approach is misguided.”
“Recent actions by the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly raise serious concerns due to their inconsistency with the fundamental principles and objectives of the Assembly’s founding act and the Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Prague Summit. The multilateral dialogue, which was once widely embraced by the Assembly’s participants, has unfortunately become a thing of the past.
We are increasingly concerned about the actions of some European Parliament members involved in the work of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, as well as the European Parliament as a whole, whose hostile rhetoric and actions contradict the principles of partnership and mutual respect. Deliberately distorted and false political statements are increasingly becoming part of the actions of those European Parliament members who prioritize their convicted political partners over facts, evidence, and the will of the Georgian people. Georgian society has witnessed how these European Parliament members joined protests in front of the Georgian Parliament, which went beyond the scope of parliamentary diplomacy. Some members of the European Parliament’s delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly made statements that encouraged public unrest, radicalization, and violence in our country. Furthermore, resolutions and reports by the European Parliament and the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly regarding Georgia continue to disregard the democratically expressed will of the Georgian people.
Additionally, we are deeply concerned by the European Parliament members’ decision to invite individuals under the guise of ‘civil society’ to the plenary session, despite their involvement in or support for denying elections, undermining legitimate democratic institutions, and recent attempts to overthrow the government in Georgia. Instead of clearly distancing itself from such actions and associated violence, the Assembly’s current approach legitimizes actors whose agenda does not align with democratic principles. By providing a platform for these individuals, Euronest normalizes and promotes anti-democratic behavior, as well as justifies violent or radical political agendas. This completely contradicts the core values of democracy, the rule of law, dialogue, and peace that this institution aims to uphold.
The fact that the majority of partner countries are not participating in the plenary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly should serve as a serious indication that the European Parliament’s current approach is misguided. The European Parliament must reflect on whether its current actions strengthen regional cooperation or destroy bridges of partnership. Its overly politicized approach undermines both the credibility of the Assembly and the partnership between the European Union and its associated countries.
In light of the above, the Georgian Parliament delegation refrained from participating in the 12th plenary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly in Yerevan. We call on the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly to reflect on these legitimate concerns and return to respecting the founding principles of the Assembly. Only through such reconsideration can the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly fulfill its true mission and establish itself as a reliable platform for the Eastern Partnership and its participating countries,” the letter states.
Levan Makhashvili addresses the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly with a letter explaining why the Georgian Parliament delegation is not participating in the 12th plenary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly
