EU Statement on the 64th round of the Geneva International Discussions

1. The European Union welcomes the 64th round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) on 25-26 June 2025 and thanks the GID Co-Chairs for their consistent efforts to keep this format operational. We take this opportunity to commend the outgoing UN Representative to the GID, Cihan Sultanoğlu, for her personal commitment and substantive contributions over the past seven years, and to wish her every success in her future endeavours.

2. As mandated by the six-point agreement of 12 August 2008 and the implementing measures of 8 September 2008, the GID process continues to serve as the only platform where the consequences of the conflict, including issues related to the implementation of the six-point agreement and its implementing measures, are addressed. 

3. We welcome the commitment of participants to remain engaged in the GID. We call however for more engagement on substance, including on core issues. We believe that renewed non-use of force statements 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. In this context, we acknowledge the substantive exchanges of views on this agenda item. 

4. We take positive note that, despite challenging discussions, participants in Working Group 2 addressed several humanitarian issues, including crossings, documentation, livelihoods, missing persons, cultural heritage and education. Building on the information session held the day before, the participants also had additional exchanges on issues relating to freedom of movement and external mobility. At the same time, we regret that discussion on IDPs and refugees was again not possible due to the walkout by the Russian, Abkhaz and South Ossetian participants. We reiterate that this practice has a damaging effect on the GID and must stop.

5. The EU is concerned about the conflict’s severe and lasting impact on the overall security situation in Georgia and the wider region, as well as on the well-being of the conflict-affected people. The EU condemns the continued illegal Russian military presence and activities in Georgia. We are also concerned about Russia’s attempts to de-facto integrate Georgia’s occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia into Russia’s regulatory and security space, as well as ongoing “borderisation” activities, the restrictions on the movement of civilians across the administrative boundary lines and the arbitrary detention of Georgian citizens. 

6. The EU reiterates its call to enable immediate and unimpeded access to Georgia’s occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia for international and regional human rights mechanisms to fully implement their respective mandates. We are seriously concerned about the enduring human rights violations committed therein. We recall that OSCE commitments in the human dimension apply to all participating States and need to be respected in consequence by all of us.

7. The EU deplores the unilateral decision by the Russian Federation to launch regular commercial passenger flights to Sukhumi in Georgia's occupied breakaway region of Abkhazia. This action, taken without the consent of the Georgian authorities and in the absence of a necessary international aviation code for the Sukhumi airport, is yet another step by the Russian Federation violating Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

8. The EU calls on Russia, as a party to this conflict, to recommit itself to respecting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and to fulfil its obligations under the agreement of 12 August 2008 and its subsequent implementing measures of 8 September 2008 in full and without further delay. 

9. The EU notes positively that the 124^th and 125^th meetings of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place in Ergneti on 4 April and 11 June 2025, respectively. The EU once again calls for the earliest possible resumption of the IPRM in Gali, which should be held in accordance with established practice and without any preconditions.

10. The EU, as a Co-Chair, remains committed to active involvement in the Geneva International Discussions. The EU’s commitment to Georgia’s security is also proven through the continued activities of the EUMM – the only legitimate international monitoring presence on the ground. The EU’s support for Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders remains firm. 

11. Notwithstanding the EU’s ongoing commitment to Georgia’s security, we are concerned regarding the worsening political and human rights situation in the country. 

12. The EU looks forward to the next GID round, which has been agreed will take place in Geneva in November 2025.

Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, San Marino and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.