Georgia’s EU accession suspended, Ambassador confirms

Speaking at an event on EU enlargement in Tbilisi on Tuesday 9 July, the, European Union’s Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, said that “regrettably, Georgia’s EU accession process is stopped for now”. He added that “this has been decided by EU leaders during the last European Council”.

The Ambassador in effect removed any wriggle room left by the Council’s conclusions last month, that referred to the Georgian government’s course of action ‘which jeopardises Georgia’s EU path, de facto leading to a half in the accession process’.

The breaking point was the passing of Georgia’s foreign agents law, modelled on Russian legislation that stifles dissent.It has led to weeks of protests in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.

“The law ‘On Transparency of Foreign Influence’ clearly distances the country from fulfilling the nine steps, and anti-Western, anti-European rhetoric is also completely incompatible with the stated goal of joining the European Union”, Ambassador Gerchinsky said.

He also announced that the EU has frozen funds for Georgia from the European Peace Facility, worth €30 million this year. He added that more actions “are being considered if the situation further deteriorates” and he reflected that “it is sad to see EU-Georgia relations at such a low point, when they could have been at an all-time high”.

The EU granted Georgia candidate status last December but now its leaders “don't understand the intentions of the current Georgian authorities”, according to the Ambassador. Despite the suspension, the European Council has reaffirmed its support for Georgia's territorial integrity and solidarity with the Georgian people. They have committed to continue supporting their European aspirations.

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