EU High Representative says upcoming elections will be “important test” for Georgian democracy

Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Tuesday said this year and the upcoming parliamentary elections would be an “important test” for Georgia’s democracy.

In his comments at the joint press conference with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Oliver Varhelyi, the EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Borrell noted the electoral reform should carry out “all relevant recommendations” of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, to ensure conducting “free, fair and competitive” elections.

The EU High Representative also stressed “we can jointly strengthen Georgia’s resilience. We are fully committed to your sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

He underscored the EU's ongoing efforts in this regard, including having the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia, the only foreign mission in the country monitoring the occupation lines separating the regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali from the rest of the country, adding “they [Mission] do an important work on a daily basis” for Georgian people.

Borrell also referred to the strengthened security and defence cooperation with Georgia, with support in logistics and cyber-defence capabilities.