EU official Borrell to Georgian opposition: I share concerns over stalled electoral, judicial reforms

Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has stated that he shares the Georgian opposition’s concerns over the ‘stalled’ electoral and judiciary reforms ‘which go to the essence of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement (AA),’ the letter sent by Borrell to Georgian opposition leaders reads.

The document is in response to the opposition’s letter sent to ​​European Council President Charles Michel, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi and Josep Borrell on December 9, in which they expressed concerns regarding political development in the country and the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party’s withdrawal from the EU-mediated April 19 agreement, which resolved a six-month political crisis in the country following the 2020 parliamentary elections and proposed large-scale electoral and judiciary reforms.

• EU official Borrell: EU continues to support resilience, recovery, reforms in Georgia

Borrell states that ‘inclusive reforms remain the best chance of tangible progress’ for building democracy and resilience in Georgia and ‘ending the damaging polarisation currently affecting the Georgian political system.’

He also emphasised the importance of cooperation between the government and the opposition to de-escalation and pursuing a ‘constructive reform agenda.’

Special attention should be paid to the justice sector and democratic reforms. Whereas the primary responsibility lies with the government,” said Borrell.

The letter maintains that the EU will continue to advocate for ambitious reforms based on the EU-Georgia AA which includes the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with the EU, signed in 2014. 

• PM Garibashvili at EaP Summit: Georgia 'diligent' on its EU integration path

The Georgian opposition’s letter to the EU’s top officials was sent prior to the Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit held on December 15 in Brussels, where the initiative of the associated trio uniting Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova ‘to enhance cooperation with the EU’ was acknowledged. 

Borrell underscored that those countries which remain committed to reforms will benefit from the EU, noting that it was the message of the EaP summit as well.