EU Commission Report: Georgia Accession Stalled Amid Democratic Concerns
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, October 31, 2024
The European Commission released a report raising serious concerns about Georgia's democratic practices and commitment to EU-aligned reforms, stating that recent setbacks have hindered the country's progress toward EU membership.
The report follows Georgia's December 2023 grant of EU candidate status, noting that its accession process has since stalled due to actions taken by the Georgian government in 2024. After the October parliamentary elections, the OSCE-led International Election Observation Mission flagged significant issues, including changes to election laws, breaches in voter secrecy, procedural irregularities, and intimidation tactics. These findings align with previous EU recommendations for comprehensive electoral reforms to restore public trust.
Commenting on the report's conclusions, EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski highlighted a "backsliding" in essential democratic principles, saying, "This [backsliding on Judiciary and Fundamental Rights] is unprecedented for a country that aspires to join the EU." The report states that Georgia's candidate status came with specific conditions tied to rule of law and democratic integrity, which it claims the Georgian government has failed to implement.
The report advises the Georgian government to repeal the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence and legislation affecting Family Values and Protection of Minors, both identified as inconsistent with EU values. Summarizing the report's findings, Ambassador Herczynski remarked, "There aren't many reasons to celebrate" this year as "Georgia has gone backwards while other candidate countries have advanced."
Although the report maintains that the EU's door remains open, it reinforces that the accession process is "merit-based and without shortcuts." Georgia's leaders are urged to "read the report very, very carefully" to find a path forward, with Herczynski concluding, "Georgia's next government should reverse course, recommit to democratic principles and values if it wants to bring the country closer to the EU. This has to start with full transparency about the electoral process."
