The Georgian authorities are adopting laws that remove the country from membership in the European Union, stated the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, European Union reports.
"Last December, when Georgia was granted European Union candidate status, we hoped this would be a strong incentive for the government to undertake significant reforms towards opening European Union negotiations.
Instead, in recent months, the governing authorities have proposed laws that have moved the country away from this goal.
Despite massive protests, the foreign influence law – which stifles civil society and media organisations – was reintroduced and adopted. At the same time, anti-European Union rhetoric has grown louder.
First, I want to thank you, the European Parliament, for being vocal about the situation in Georgia and calling strongly for European Union action in response to the Georgian government’s unprecedented anti-democratic actions and rhetoric.
The European Union has responded with appropriate measures: Georgia's European Union accession process has been halted, political contacts have been downgraded, European Union support through the European Peace Facility, worth €30 million, is on hold, while the assistance portfolio is being reviewed," Borrell stated.
He added that "the upcoming parliamentary elections will be a strong test for Georgia’s democracy. The electoral campaign has already been marred by troubling statements and actions from the ruling party, including promises to ban opposition parties and efforts to restrict civil society and the media. Such tactics resemble those of authoritarian regimes. If these measures are implemented, they would clearly contradict Georgia’s stated goal to join the European Union and the values and principles that underpin European Union membership."
