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Transparency of foreign influence bill is “not consistent with Georgia’s EU aspiration” - European Council President

He stressed the adoption of the law would bring Georgia “further away from the EU and not closer”, adding the Georgian people “have chosen the European path and in response, the European Council granted” the country the membership candidate status last December. Photo via European Council

Agenda.ge, 16 Apr 2024 - 20:55, Tbilisi,Georgia

Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, on Tuesday said the draft Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence “is not consistent with” Georgia’s European Union aspiration and its accession trajectory.

Michel’s comments followed the reintroduction of the bill, which calls for the registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they derive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad.

The Georgian people have chosen the European path and in response, the European Council granted #Georgia the candidate status last December.

Let me be clear: the draft Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence is not consistent with Georgia’s EU aspiration and its accession…
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) April 16, 2024

He stressed the adoption of the law would bring Georgia “further away from the EU and not closer”, adding the Georgian people “have chosen the European path and in response, the European Council granted” the country the membership candidate status last December.

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