Georgian Dream Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili traveled to Brussels on September 22 for an official visit, accompanied by a GD parliamentary delegation. He met with the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium’s Federal Parliament. A day later, Papuashvili traveled to Luxembourg, where, according to a Georgian Parliament press release, he held a meeting with the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg on September 24.

The GD delegation includes Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chair of Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee; Levan Makhashvili, Chair of the European Integration Committee; and Davit Matikashvili, Chair of the Procedural Issues and Rules Committee. The visit comes amid strained relations between Georgia and the European Union over Georgian Dream’s anti-Western rhetoric and concerns over democratic backsliding, and as Georgian ruling party lawmakers have tried to use their visits in European capitals to advocate for a “renewal of dialogue” with the EU.

Meeting with Belgian Parliamentary Leaders On September 22, Papuashvili met with Vincent Blondel, president of the Belgian Senate, and Peter De Roover, president of the House of Representatives. According to a Georgian Parliament press release, the parties recalled their “fruitful meeting held in April 2025 within the framework of the Inter-Parliamentary Union” and underscored the importance of Papuashvili’s bilateral visit to Brussels.

The sides discussed cooperation between Georgia and Belgium and emphasized “the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in relations between the two countries.” According to the release, “Shalva Papuashvili spoke about ongoing changes in regional geopolitics and the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor for Europe’s energy security.” The parties also discussed “the challenges facing Georgia-EU relations” and emphasized the importance of dialogue. Papuashvili briefed his Belgian counterparts on the Georgian Parliament’s main priorities, the release said.

“In today’s turbulent world, when it is very easy to find pretexts for confrontation, striving for dialogue and finding the points that unite us rather than divide us takes on particular importance,” Papuashvili told pro-government media outlets following the meeting. He said the discussions addressed what he described as the European Commission’s June 2024 decision to suspend dialogue with Georgia, calling it “a wrong decision.” “We are still waiting for this dialogue to be restored,” Papuashvili said.

“It is important that member states also work with EU institutions and convince them that the answers lie not in confrontation and conflict, but always in dialogue.” “It is therefore important that Brussels return to the path of dialogue,” he added. “We have always expressed our readiness for this, and we hope we will have the opportunity to restore dialogue with various EU institutions.” Meeting in Luxembourg On September 24, Papuashvili met with Claude Wiseler, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg.

Papuashvili thanked Wiseler “for his support for Georgia’s territorial integrity,” with both sides noting that “cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries is developing dynamically,” according to the Georgian Parliament’s press release. “They recalled the fruitful meeting held in Istanbul in April 2026 on the margins of the General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU),” the press release said.

“The sides discussed areas of bilateral cooperation, including the development of business ties and cooperation in the field of tourism.” It added that “the meeting also addressed Georgia-EU relations,” and it was noted that “Georgia is successfully fulfilling its obligations under the Association Agreement. The importance of restoring dialogue was emphasized.” The discussion also addressed the ongoing war in Ukraine and “prospects for peace and development in the Caucasus region,” according to the press release.

Also Read: 13/08/2026 – EU Report Notes ‘Significant Backsliding’ of Georgia’s Democracy, Reduced Ties With Tbilisi 09/07/2026 – Papuashvili Joins EU Candidate Countries’ Parliamentary Conference in Belgrade 16/06/2026 – Papuashvili Rails Against New EU Member Voting Rights Debate as ‘Orwellian’ This post is also available in: ქართული Tags GD government Shalva Papuashvili URL Copied Back to top button