EU Ambassador to Georgia Paweł Herczynski, speaking at a Europe Day celebration in Batumi on 11 July 2026, stated that Georgia is not among the countries advancing on the path to joining the European Union, though the EU has not lost hope that this is temporary. In his speech, Herczynski reaffirmed the EU's unchanged commitment to Georgia as a long-term and reliable partner, but stressed that progress on the EU path is based on democratic development and adherence to common rules.
Herczynski highlighted that Europe's strength lies in diversity and adherence to common rules, which have brought peace, prosperity, and development to EU members for almost 80 years. He noted that the EU continues to enlarge, with those sharing common rules advancing toward membership, but regretted that Georgia is not among them. The ambassador's remarks come amid ongoing tensions between the EU and Georgia over democratic backsliding, though no prior coverage of this specific event exists in recent months. The speech, delivered on Europe Day, emphasized the values of tolerance and harmonious coexistence, which Herczynski said Batumi embodies as an open and diverse city. He concluded by encouraging Georgians to enjoy the celebration and look forward to continued cooperation.