In Open Letter, Kobakhidze Asks EU Leaders to Address ‘Troubling’ Events in Copenhagen, ‘Crisis of Values’ in EU
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze addressed European Union leaders in an open letter, calling on them to assess what he described as “troubling events” in Copenhagen, referring to the recent dispersal of a small anti-war protest by Danish police, and to respond to what he called a “deep crisis of values” in Europe, where “this path” is taking the European Union and what plan the bloc has in that regard.
In the May 19 open letter, read out by Kobakhidze during a briefing at the government administration, he addressed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. The letter started by stating that Georgia is “founded on European values” and that the country, as an EU candidate, is “striving to become a fully fledged member” of the EU. Blaming the “European bureaucracy,” the letter then said that political dialogue with Georgia was “unilaterally – at your initiative – suspended,” after which “the formats of discussion and cooperation” proposed by Tbilisi were “repeatedly rejected.”
“As part of European civilization and a candidate country for membership in the EU” Kobakhidze said, “We have questions regarding the troubling events that unfolded in the heart of Europe, in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, which we believe have nothing in common with either Europe or European values.” Addressing von der Leyen, Costa and Metsola, the letter called on them to assess the “violence” in Copenhagen, where “participants of a peaceful demonstration were first beaten with batons and then attacked using police dogs.”
The letter apparently referred to May 13 events in Copenhagen, where Danish police reportedly used batons and deployed dogs to disperse a small group of anti-war activists blocking access to the office of shipping company Maersk, demanding an end to shipments allegedly linked to Israel.
Describing the footage as “shocking,” Kobakhidze said it “clearly revealed a disturbing reality to the international community,” adding that Europe, long regarded as “a benchmark for the protection of democracy, human rights, freeedom of speech and expression, as well as other fundamental values,” is now showing “an opposite trend.”
He asked the three leaders, “Where do you believe the processes associated with democratic backsliding, economic stagnation, the migration crisis, erosion of historical memory, weakening of national and gender identities and the breakdown of public identity are leading Europe? How did Europe, once regarded as a global model of development, freedom and democracy, fall into such a deep crisis of values, and where is this path taking the European Union?”
He described it as “regrettable and alarming” that the EU today “often disregards the natural, cultural and historical foundations of society,” claiming there is “a growing sense that the European space is gradually moving away from the principles that once made it a symbol of democracy and human rights.”
The letter concludes: “Georgia, a European country and candidate for accession to the European Union, expects a clear answer from you: what plan does the European Union have, in what direction are developments within the bloc heading and what will be the ultimate outcome of these processes?”
Asked by a pro-government Imedi TV journalist whether he expects an answer to his letter, Kobakhidze said he does not, “given that they have nothing to answer.” He added, “They are actually very well aware of the backsliding that is visible across the entire European Union, and for them this backlising is a normal phenomenon.”
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