EU Statement on the 65th round of the Geneva International Discussions

As delivered by EU at the Permanent Council, Vienna, 20 November 2025.

  1. The European Union welcomes the 65th round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID), held in Switzerland on 11-12 November 2025, in accordance with the six-point agreement of 12 August 2008 and implementing measures of 8 September 2008. We wish to thank the GID Co-Chairs for their consistent efforts to keep this format operational.

  2. The EU reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.

  3. We welcome the commitment of participants to remain engaged in the GID. However, we call for more engagement on core issues, including on the international security arrangements. We encourage further efforts in this direction. Moreover, we continue to believe that a clear non-use of force statement by GID participants, including Russia, together with the establishment of a verification mechanism, are essential for enhancing security, helping to build confidence and providing space for further political dialogue.

  4. We reiterate our condemnation of Russia’s ongoing military presence in the occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in violation of international law and OSCE core principles and commitments, as well as of Russia's obligations under the six-point agreement of 2008. We remain concerned about the severe and lasting impact of the conflict on the overall security situation in Georgia and in the wider region. We condemn Russia’s reported continuous efforts to establish a permanent naval base of its Black Sea Fleet in Georgia’s occupied breakaway region of Abkhazia.

  5. We are also concerned about continued attempts by Russia to de-facto integrate Georgia’s occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia into Russia’s regulatory and security space, as well as the ongoing “borderisation” activities. We deplore the unilateral decision by Russia to launch regular commercial passenger flights to Sukhumi, as well as strengthening rail and maritime passenger traffic.

  6. The EU remains seriously concerned about human rights violations and the persisting humanitarian challenges faced by the conflict-affected population. In particular, the EU underlines the importance of the right of all refugees and IDPs to a voluntary, safe and dignified return, as well as of being able to exercise property rights. We express regret that so far, no progress has been achieved on these issues due to the walkout by the Russian, Abkhaz and South Ossetian participants from the sessions of the Working Group on humanitarian issues. We note the detailed discussion on freedom of movement and external mobility during the latest GID round.

  7. We reiterate our call for ensuring immediate and unimpeded access to Georgia’s occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia for international and regional human rights mechanisms. Furthermore, we urge Russia to ensure the proper follow-up of the landmark judgement of 21 January 2021 of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Georgia vs Russia.

  8. We take positive note of the smooth cooperation in the framework of the Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) and reiterate the importance of resuming the Gali IPRM meetings without further delay.

  9. We reconfirm our commitment to supporting the continued activities of the EU Monitoring Mission – the only legitimate international monitoring presence on the ground. In this regard, we strongly believe that enabling the EUMM’s access to both sides of the ABL would help strengthen stability and security.

  10. Notwithstanding the EU’s ongoing commitment to Georgia’s security and territorial integrity, we are concerned regarding the worsening political and human rights situation in the country. The EU reiterates its readiness to support the Georgian people’s European aspirations, and the country’s path towards accession should the Georgian authorities reverse their present course of action.