EU High Representative: transparency bill “incompatible” with bloc’s standards

Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Tuesday said the proposed Georgian bill on the transparency of foreign influence, which passed the first reading at the country’s Parliament on Tuesday, was “incompatible” with European Union values and standards.

In his statement over the latest developments in the country around the controversial bill that involves registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “agents of foreign influence” if they derive more than 20 percent of their income from abroad, Borrell pointed to “negative consequences” of the law.

The law in its current form risks having a chilling effect on civil society and media organisations, with negative consequences for the many Georgians benefiting from their work. This law is incompatible with EU values and standards. It goes against Georgia’s stated objective of joining the European Union, as supported by a large majority of Georgian citizens. Its final adoption may have serious repercussions on our relations”, the EU official said.

Borrell urged the Georgian authorities to uphold their commitment to the promotion of “democracy, the rule of law and human rights”, and highlighted the right of people to a peaceful protest, after a public demonstration led to clashes with police outside the Parliament in Tbilisi late on Tuesday.

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday vowed the Georgian authorities’ support for the country’s European integration by saying the “march forward to Europe” would be facilitated “with Christianity”, “with sovereignty” and “with dignity”, in response to the protest.

The Georgian police on Wednesday said it had arrested 66 people for “petty hooliganism”, disobedience to law enforcement and throwing “Molotov cocktails and stones” at officers during the protest, which was called in anticipation of the legislative body giving its initial backing to the bill.