The European Council has officially confirmed the de facto suspension of Georgia's EU accession process due to the actions of the country's government, at the same time expressing support for the country's people. This is stated in the final statement of the EU summit in Brussels.
“The European Council reaffirms the Union's readiness to support the Georgian people on their European path. At the same time, it reiterates its serious concern about the actions of the Georgian government, which are contrary to the values and principles on which the European Union is founded.
The European Council recalls that this course of action jeopardizes Georgia's European path and de facto stops the accession process,” the statement reads.
The European Council called on Georgia to carry out democratic reforms in line with the basic principles of European integration. It promised to continue to monitor the situation closely.
Regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia, the European Council expects them to be “free and fair, in line with international standards and with unimpeded access for international and domestic observers”.
Separately, the European Council emphasizes the need to protect free, independent and pluralistic media in Georgia.
The statement also reaffirms the European Union's support for Georgia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity; commitment to a policy of non-recognition and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Georgia was granted candidate status for EU membership in December 2023. In July this year, the EU ambassador to Georgia announced that the accession process had been frozen. The reasons are a retreat from democracy and the anti-Western rhetoric of the Georgian Dream government.
The authorities link criticism of Western partners with attempts to stage a coup d'état and open a “second front” in Georgia. At the same time, the Georgian Dream continues to promise to bring the country into the European Union if it wins the October 26 elections.
Today, EU leaders are increasingly drawing a line between the European aspirations of the Georgian people and the course of the Georgian Dream, which tends toward authoritarianism. On Thursday, EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell emphasized that against the backdrop of a serious democratic setback in the elections, the Georgian people will have to decide which path to take - “towards Europe or away from Europe.” The Georgian Dream perceived his words as rude interference in the electoral process.
Reprinted from https://www.newsgeorgia.ge/
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