As the deadline for the implementation of 12 recommendations of the European Commission is approaching, the statements by the Georgian Dream leaders have become more Eurosceptic and negative towards various institutions of the European Union. If until now, only the members of the parliamentary majority who disguise themselves under the name of the so-called People's Power were distinguished by this attitude, we can now hear similar statements openly from the Chairman of the Georgian Dream party, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the MPs of the Georgian Dream faction.

With these statements, the Georgian Dream leaders are trying to portray the failure to receive candidate status for EU membership as, on the one hand, an insignificant event, and on the other hand, an unfair decision.

Georgian Dream often indicates that Georgia, which actually deserves to be a candidate, may not be granted candidate status by the European Union due to "political" considerations. This part of the statements is particularly demagogic, since the European Union is, first of all, a political union, and for joining this union, it is most important to respect democratic institutions (the media and freedom of expression, independence of the court from the partisan influence, reduction of polarization, multi-party participation in the selection of the Public Defender and other important political decision-making) and only after that, to bring other legal and economic parameters into compliance with EU standards. Therefore, carrying out some legal and economic reforms in accordance with the EU legislation cannot automatically become the basis for its membership, if the development of democratic institutions is hindered and under one-party control.

The Democracy Research Institute believes that the purpose of the anti-Western rhetoric of the Georgian Dream leaders is to direct the negative attitude of the public towards the European Union, and not towards the decisions made by them, which is  damaging the country's European future and poses a real threat to the candidate status.

Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia clearly defines the will of the Georgian people and states that "constitutional bodies shall take all measures within their powers to ensure the full integration of Georgia into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization."

Georgian Dream, despite being in power, does not have the legitimacy to change the public will declared in the Constitution. This was confirmed by the gathering of tens of thousands of citizens at the rally in support of European integration of Georgia on June 20, 2022. It is necessary for the authorities to realize that the citizens of Georgia inextricably link their future, the development of Georgia to the European integration.

In case of hindering the European integration process, the Georgian Government will not be able to avoid political responsibility through a misleading information campaign. Instead of blaming others for their own inaction, the Government, in accordance with the will of the Georgian people, should take steps to reduce political polarization, in cooperation with opposition parties and civil society, in order to create a democratic political system, which will be the basis for integration into the European Union and the well-being of Georgian citizens.