The EU urges the repeal of a Georgian law labeling certain organizations as "foreign agents."
The European Union is urging Georgia to scrap a contentious law that labels some organizations as "foreign agents." In a statement, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell and EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi called on the Georgian authorities to withdraw the legislation.
They cautioned that this action would negatively impact Georgia's progress towards the EU. On Tuesday, the Georgian parliament passed the law amid ongoing protests for weeks. NATO has joined in the condemnation of the law, considering it a move in the wrong direction.
A NATO spokesperson asked Georgia to reconsider its course and respect people's right to protest peacefully. Critics believe the law bears similarities to a Russian law allowing the government to clamp down on opposition groups and human rights organizations. With this development, there's a key question of whether Georgia, considered to have good relations with the West, will continue its path towards EU and NATO membership (as promoted by the ruling party, "Georgian Dream"), or whether it seeks to strengthen ties with Russia.
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The EU's concern over the Georgian law stems from its potential classification of certain organizations as "foreign agents," which could negatively impact Georgia's relations with the EU. This action echoes the Russian law that allows for the suppression of opposition groups and human rights organizations, raising concerns about Georgia's commitment to democratic values and EU membership. The deletion of such legislation would be a significant step towards maintaining the country's positive relationship with the EU and other international organizations.
Source: www.ntv.de
