On March 26, Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili reaffirmed that Georgia's sovereign choice is to join the European Union during a joint press conference with Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger.

Botchorishvili emphasized that this choice formed the basis for the Georgian government's application for EU membership in 2022. She expressed hope that Georgia would soon have the opportunity to engage in an open dialogue regarding the accession process, which she deemed essential both for EU enlargement and Georgia’s integration. Stressing the importance of dialogue, she stated that "without dialogue, it is very difficult to continue cooperation" and firmly asserted that Georgia belongs to "the big European family" and is also part of "the European security system."

Meinl-Reisinger, in turn, highlighted Georgia as an important partner for Austria in bilateral relations and development cooperation. She noted that a key topic of discussion with Botchorishvili was the status of "the two occupied regions of Georgia." She underscored the necessity for Austria and Georgia to unite against Russia, stating that both countries must strengthen their resilience amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. She warned that Russia continues its efforts to destabilize institutions and societies and called for joint action to counter false narratives and disinformation.

Furthermore, she asserted that "Russia must not escape responsibility for gross violations of international law" and warned that if the international order is based solely on power rather than rules, the consequences for countries like Austria and Georgia would be severe. Meinl-Reisinger reaffirmed Austria's full support for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, emphasizing that the occupied regions were a central focus of their discussions.