EU Ambassador Herczynski: Georgia Unlikely to Begin Accession Talks
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Pawel Herczynski, the European Union's Ambassador to Georgia, announced that the EU's annual enlargement report on Georgia will be released in the second half of October. However, he could not confirm whether the report will be published before or after the Georgian parliamentary elections on October 26. Speaking to local media on October 7, Ambassador Herczynski expressed doubt that the European Commission would recommend opening accession talks with Georgia.
"We expect the enlargement report on Georgia to be issued in the second half of October, either a few days before or after the elections," said Herczynski. He added that it is "highly unlikely" the European Commission will issue a positive recommendation to open accession negotiations with Georgia, and an actual decision to start talks is "even less likely."
The Ambassador further noted that the EU's concern over Georgia will be discussed at several upcoming meetings. On October 8, a parliamentary debate will focus on Georgia, followed by formal discussions among EU foreign ministers on October 14. The European Council will also review the situation on October 17-18. Herczynski remarked that such discussions are "not a good sign," signaling growing concern within the EU over developments in Georgia.
Ambassador Herczynski also urged Georgian citizens to actively participate in the upcoming elections. He reiterated the EU's commitment to working with any democratically elected government but emphasized that core principles-freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and minority rights-remain non-negotiable.
When asked about the Georgian government's recent push to impeach President Salome Zourabichvili following her diplomatic visits to Europe, Herczynski said that the impeachment would not aid in depolarizing the country or fostering an environment conducive to free and fair elections.
