EU Ambassador to Georgia meets First Deputy Foreign Minister over Law on Grants

On 12 February, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia Paweł Herczyński, following his request, was received by the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, George Zurabashvili.

The purpose of the meeting was to convey the European Union’s serious concerns regarding the recently tabled package of amendments to the Law on Grants and related legislative acts. As adopted in first reading, the proposed amendments would represent “another significant threat to civic space and political participation in Georgia”, the EU Delegation to Georgia explained in a press release.

The Ambassador said that such measures are “incompatible with Georgia’s commitments under the EU–Georgia Association Agreement and run counter to the commitments sovereignly taken by Georgia as a candidate country for EU membership”.

Ambassador Herczyński noted that, if adopted, the amendments could directly and adversely affect the work of diplomatic missions operating in Georgia, in contradiction with the provisions and principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. 

The Georgian side also raised the issue of EU sanctions. Ambassador Herczyński informed that the 20th package of sanctions against Russia was proposed by the European Commission on 6 February and is currently being discussed between EU Member States.

Both sides agreed to remain in contact on upcoming developments.

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Press release