EU Summit Halts Georgia’s EU Accession Over “Russian” Law

The European Union has halted Georgia’s path to EU membership due to the adoption of the controversial “Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence.”

This decision, highlighted at the recent EU summit in Brussels, underscores the EU’s serious concerns over the recent legislative actions in Georgia.

According to the summit conclusions, the EU leaders expressed that this law represents a significant regression from the steps outlined in the Commission’s recommendation for Georgia to obtain candidate status.

The European Council explicitly called on the Georgian authorities to reverse their current course of action, which they argue jeopardises Georgia’s EU path and effectively halts the accession process.

The Controversial Law and Its Implications

The controversial law, which is due to come into effect next month, mandates that media and non-governmental organisations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad must register as “organisations acting in the interest of a foreign power.”

These organisations will also be subjected to stringent audits or face punitive fines. The Georgian government argues that these rules are necessary to ensure transparency and protect the country from foreign interference.

However, critics have dubbed it the “Russian law” due to its similarities with legislation in Russia, fearing that its real purpose is to stifle dissent ahead of the parliamentary elections in October.

The adoption of this law has sparked significant unrest within Georgia. Thousands of people have protested against it, and there have been reports of NGO workers, activists, and opposition politicians facing threats and physical assaults during rallies. The US has previously criticised the law, stating that it threatens free speech.

EU’s Response and Support for Georgian People

In their statement, the European leaders maintained their “steadfast solidarity with the Georgian people” and expressed a “readiness to continue supporting Georgians on their path towards a European future.”

The European Council called for an immediate halt to acts of intimidation, threats, and physical assaults against civil society representatives, political leaders, activists, and journalists in Georgia. They stressed the importance of ensuring that the upcoming parliamentary elections this autumn are free and fair, encouraging partners to conduct substantial long-term and short-term election monitoring.

High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, confirmed that the EU has prepared proposals for measures against Georgia should it continue on its current anti-democratic path.

This sentiment was echoed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which has called on Georgia to immediately repeal the controversial “foreign agents” law.

The Broader Context of EU-Georgia Relations

Georgia’s relationship with the EU has been complex and multifaceted. The country was granted EU candidate status in December, contingent on several reforms, including justice reform.

However, the passage of the new foreign influence law has drawn significant criticism from the EU. The law is seen as a move away from the democratic principles and reforms that are central to EU membership.

The situation in Georgia illustrates the broader challenges faced by post-Soviet states that are attempting to balance their historical and geopolitical ties with Russia while pursuing closer integration with the EU.

These countries often find themselves in a precarious position, needing to comply with EU demands to maintain economic stability while managing their relationship with Russia, which remains a significant influence both politically and culturally.

Read more:

EU Membership: Georgia Faces Critical Months, Says Blinken

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