The European Union expressed regret over the lack of substantive progress on core issues at the 67th round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID), held on 30 June – 1 July 2026, according to a statement delivered at the OSCE Permanent Council on 9 July 2026. The EU reiterated its condemnation of Russia's continued illegal military presence in Georgia, including the transformation of the Ochamchire port into a military foothold for the Russian Black Sea Fleet, and called on Russia to respect Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The GID remains the only forum addressing the consequences of the 2008 conflict, including implementation of the six-point Agreement. The EU stressed that a clear non-use of force statement by all participants, including Russia, along with a verification mechanism, is essential for enhancing security. Georgia has already undertaken such a commitment. The EU also regretted that discussion on internally displaced persons and refugees was again impossible due to a walkout by Russian, Abkhaz and South Ossetian participants, calling the practice damaging to the GID.
The EU voiced serious concern over Russia's increasing attempts to de facto integrate Georgia's occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia into Russia's regulatory and security space. It noted that the so-called "Agreement on Deepening Allied Cooperation" signed on 9 May between Moscow and Tskhinvali, and the appointment of a Russian official as so-called "Prime Minister" of South Ossetia, have no validity under international law. The EU called on Russia to reverse these steps and end economic exploitation of the occupied regions.
The EU urged Russia to enable unimpeded access for international human rights mechanisms to the occupied regions, stop "borderisation" activities, lift restrictions on civilian movement across administrative boundary lines, end arbitrary detention of Georgian citizens, and ensure follow-up to the European Court of Human Rights' 21 January 2021 judgment in Georgia vs Russia. The EU positively noted the smooth operation of the Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) and called for immediate resumption of the IPRM in Gali without preconditions.
The EU reaffirmed support for the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM), the only legitimate international monitoring presence on the ground, and stressed that granting EUMM access to both sides of the administrative boundary lines would strengthen stability. The EU expressed unwavering support for Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, but voiced concern over the worsening political and human rights situation in the country, stating that progress on democratic reforms, rule of law, and protection of fundamental freedoms remain essential for Georgia's European path.
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom aligned themselves with the statement.