EU High Representative says Georgian transparency law “pushing country away” from bloc
He further stated the bloc stood with “the Georgian people and their overwhelming choice in favour of democracy and Georgia's future inside the EU”. Photo: Photo via Josep Borrell/twitter
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Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Monday said the Georgian Government was “bringing the country away from its EU integration path” after the adoption of the controversial law on transparency of foreign influence.
After the May Foreign Affairs Council, “second time in a row”, the Council had a “lively debate” on Georgia, discussing the “worrying political developments” in the country, including the transparency law, Borrell noted at the press conference.
We had to regret that there is widespread disinformation about the EU and its values coming from official actors. We heard Georgian voices at the highest level, surprisingly stating that this law is bringing the country closer to the European Union”, he stated and stressed “no, this law and all the negative developments around it are pushing Georgia away from the European Union. [...] and this statement is being supported by 26 out of 27 members. There is no unanimity. We don't need unanimity to make a political evaluation of the situation”.
The official pointed out the bloc recognised that the dynamics went “against the will of the overwhelming majority of the Georgian population”. “The overwhelming majority of the [EU Foreign Affairs] ministers” today were “very clear” that the Georgian Government was “bringing the country away from the EU”.
If the [Georgian] Government does not change the course of action, Georgia will not progress on its European Union path”, he emphasised.
Borrell also noted the EU would increase support to civil society and media in Georgia, adding the bloc would continue to “monitor the situation and adapt measures as necessary”.
We will downgrade our political contacts [...], we will reconsider putting a hold on our financial assistance to the Government and we will reconsider our support from the European Peace Facility”, the official added.
He further stated the bloc stood with “the Georgian people and their overwhelming choice in favour of democracy and Georgia's future inside the EU”.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Monday said the door for Georgia to become a member of the European Union was “open” but added it would close if the country’s Government continued on its current track, following its adoption of a controversial law on transparency of foreign influence.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday said his Government was responsible for the country’s membership of the European Union and noted “all the ongoing processes” in Georgia were aimed at the country’s full integration into the EU in 2030.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Tuesday said the EU “deeply regrets” the decision of the Georgian Parliament to override President Salome Zourabichvili’s veto on the domestic law on transparency of foreign influence and “to disregard the Venice Commission's detailed legal arguments leading to a clear recommendation to repeal this law”.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Wednesday said the Western Balkans, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia had a “historic window of opportunity” to “strongly bind their future” to the EU.