EU urges Georgian authorities to withdraw controversial law on transparency of foreign influence

The European Union on Wednesday urged the Georgian authorities to withdraw the newly adopted controversial law on transparency of foreign influence, uphold their commitment to the EU integration path and advance necessary reforms detailed in the nine steps outlined by the European Commission for opening accession talks with the country.

The statement, released by the High Representative Josep Borrell and Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, said the adoption of the law “negatively” impacted Georgia’s progress in EU integration.

The EU stands with the Georgian people and their choice in favour of democracy and of Georgia’s European future. The intimidation, threats and physical assaults on civil society representatives, political leaders and journalists, as well as their families is unacceptable. We call on the Georgian authorities to investigate these documented acts”, the statement said in reference to reports of assaults on activists, opposition figures, reporters and citizens during ongoing protests against the law.

The statement said the Georgian Government had adopted the law “despite large protests and unequivocal calls by the international community”.

The EU has clearly and repeatedly stated that the spirit and content of the law are not in line with EU core norms and values. It will undermine the work of civil society and independent media while freedom of association and freedom of expression are fundamental rights at the core of Georgia’s commitments as part of the Association Agreement and of any EU accession path”, the document concluded.

The legislative piece, which calls for 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, was supported by 84 MPs in the 150-member lawmaking body, with 30 voting against.

It requires groups “considered to be an organisation pursuing the interests of a foreign power” to be registered in the public registry with the status and publicise their received funding.

President Salome Zourabichvili on Sunday said she would veto the legislative piece, however the ruling party has enough votes to override her veto in the Parliament.