Georgia moving away from EU - Borrell to Europarliament

BRUSSELS. Oct 9 (Interfax) - Bills proposed by the Georgian authorities are moving Georgia away from joining the European Union, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said at the European Parliament's plenary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday.

"Last December, when Georgia was granted European Union candidate status, we hoped this would be a strong incentive for the government to undertake significant reforms towards opening European Union negotiations. Instead, in recent months, the governing authorities have proposed laws that have moved the country away from this goal," Borrell said.

He gave the example of the foreign influence law, which has caused mass protests and, in his words, "stifles civil society and media organizations."

"At the same time, anti-European Union rhetoric has grown louder," Borrell said.

"The European Union has responded with appropriate measures: Georgia's European Union accession process has been halted, political contacts have been downgraded, European Union support through the European Peace Facility, worth 30 million euros, is on hold, while the assistance portfolio is being reviewed," he said.

"We have also heard false accusations and blatant disinformation about the European Union and its values spread by ruling party officials, including the Prime Minister [Irakli Kobakhidze] and members of the parliament. The European Union will continue to expose such false narratives and respond to anti-democratic actions," Borrell said.

According to him, "the upcoming parliamentary elections will be a strong test for Georgia's democracy."

"The electoral campaign has already been marred by troubling statements and actions from the ruling party, including promises to ban opposition parties and efforts to restrict civil society and the media. Such tactics resemble those of authoritarian regimes. If these measures are implemented, they would clearly contradict Georgia's stated goal to join the European Union and the values and principles that underpin European Union membership. The European Union will closely follow the conduct of these upcoming elections," Borrell said.

"It is our expectation that they will be peaceful, free, and fair, truly reflecting the will of the Georgian people. The European Union's door remains open, but the Georgian authorities need first to realign with European Union values and norms, and recommit to Georgia's European Union path," he said.