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Georgia will not join the EU if it does not restore EU values

by AI | 03.Nov 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The environment for the functioning of civil organizations and independent media in Georgia has deteriorated, and increasing restrictions on freedom of speech have also been noted.

People gather during a demonstration in response to a call from the pro-Western opposition, which refuses to recognize the results of the parliamentary elections. Photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley/Le Pictorium via ZUMA Press/dpa

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The European Commission announced that it has suspended the accession process with Georgia and will not recommend its resumption if the country does not start adhering to EU values, including not clarifying irregularities during last week’s parliamentary elections.

On Wednesday, the European Commission adopted its annual enlargement report, assessing the progress of candidate countries on the path to the EU.

Georgia was on the list of candidate countries, which applied for EU membership in March 2022. In December 2023, the European Council granted it candidate status, which it lost in spring this year. The accession process was halted when the Georgian authorities, despite international appeals and social protests, adopted a controversial law on so-called foreign agents, modeled on Russian regulations. The EU already stated then that Georgia had departed from the EU path.

The situation worsened by the fact that during the parliamentary elections held in Georgia on Saturday, international observers noted many irregularities, and Georgia was urged to clarify them on behalf of the EU by the head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell.

In the published report, the EC noted that the shortcomings reported include, among others, recent legislative changes in the electoral process, frequent compromises in voter secrecy, procedural inconsistencies, intimidation, and pressure on voters, which negatively affected public confidence in the process. The EC called on the country to conduct a comprehensive electoral reform.

The document also noted that the environment for the functioning of civic organizations and independent media had deteriorated in the country, and increasing restrictions on freedom of speech were also noted.

As Josep Borrell noted at a press conference in Brussels, Georgian authorities also struggle to combat foreign influences, especially from Russia, which violate European values. The head of EU diplomacy also condemned the way social protests and opposition are suppressed in Georgia.

On Wednesday, the European Commission announced that it will not unfreeze Georgia’s membership process and will not recommend to member states to resume negotiations with this country until it restores European values and clarifies the irregularities accompanying the elections. “A clear path to Georgia’s membership in the EU must be outlined for the accession process to restart. This includes an investigation into voting irregularities and changes to regulations that violate EU values,” commented Borrell, noting that the current government is pulling Georgia away from the EU, its values, and principles. (31.10.2024)

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