European Union - EU puts Georgia's accession process on hold for the time being
The European Union has put Georgia's membership process on hold for the time being. The reason is the current course of action by the leadership in Tbilisi, as stated in a declaration by the heads of state and government at the Brussels summit.
The text states that the European Council expresses serious concerns over the latest developments in Georgia. The authorities must reverse their current course, as it threatens Georgia's way into the EU and effectively brings "a de facto halt to the membership process."
Georgia's candidate status was granted to the 3.7-million population country only in the last December, after it applied for EU membership shortly after the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Law leads to mass protests
As a concrete example of the negative developments in the former Soviet republic on Russia's southern border, the heads of state and government mention a new law for stricter control of civil society. This was passed by the parliament in May despite weeks of mass protests against the "Russian law." It overruled a veto by the pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili.
The ruling party Georgian Dream, which holds the majority in parliament, tightens the accountability of NGOs that receive more than 20% of their funds from abroad through this law. They justify this with greater transparency. A similar law in Russia labels these foreign-funded organizations as "foreign agents."
Warnings to Tbilisi
The heads of state and government of the EU see this Georgian law as "a step back in terms of recommendations from the EU Commission for the EU membership candidate status." They call on authorities to end the increasing intimidation, threats, and physical attacks against representatives of civil society, political leadership figures, civil activists, and journalists.
Furthermore, it is reminded in the declaration that respect for values and principles, on which the European Union was founded, is essential for every country seeking membership. It must also be ensured that the parliamentary elections in the fall are free and fair.
Good relations with Moscow
Exactly what lies behind the course of the Georgian government is still unclear. It is paradoxical that the Georgian Dream party, which led the successful negotiations on EU candidate status, holds to the EU course - while maintaining good relations with Moscow.
The founder of the party Bidzina Ivanishvili, who became a billionaire with businesses in Russia and was also Minister-President, represents the view that Georgia must protect itself from harmful Western influence in the past.
- The current situation in Georgia has led to concerns within the European Union, as highlighted in their declaration following the Brussels summit.
- The EU has expressed its disapproval of a new law introduced in Georgia, which tightens control over civil society organizations, potentially halting Georgia's accession process.
- This law, despite weeks of mass protests against it, was passed by the parliament in May and overruled a veto by the pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili.
- The ruling Georgian Dream party, which holds a majority in parliament, justifies this law by citing the need for greater transparency, akin to the Russian labeling of foreign-funded organizations as "foreign agents."
- The European Council has warned Tbilisi to end the increasing intimidation, threats, and physical attacks against representatives of civil society, politicians, activists, and journalists, emphasizing the importance of respecting the values and principles upon which the EU was founded.
- It is worth noting that Russia, a close neighbor to Georgia, is also a key consideration for the Georgian government, as evidenced by the country's efforts to maintain good relations with Moscow.
- The founder of the Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, who has business interests in Russia and served as Minister-President, advocates for protecting Georgia from harmful Western influences, adding complexity to the country's diplomatic relations with both the EU and Russia.
