Georgia accession process de facto halted as EU calls on government to change course

Georgia’s EU accession process has been de facto halted due to the course of action taken by the Georgian government since Spring 2024, the European Commission said on 30 October with the adoption of its annual Enlargement Package, calling on Georgia to repeal recent legislation undermining the rule of law and fundamental rights, and to stop spreading disinformation about EU values.

The European Council had granted candidate status to Georgia in December 2023, on the understanding that nine steps set out in the Commission recommendation of 8 November 2023 were taken. The government had prepared a dedicated action plan to carry out the nine steps, and expressed its commitment to advance on EU-related reforms. “However, as of March 2024, there have been concerning developments that do not reflect the government’s stated commitment to the EU path,” the European Commission said. “These include the decision to resuscitate the Law on transparency of foreign influence and its adoption on 28 May, and the adoption on 17 September of the legislative package on family values and protection of minors” – a course of action that “runs counter to the values and principles upon which the EU is founded”.

The Commission also pointed to the recent elections of 26 October 2024, noting that the preliminary findings of the joint International Election Observation Mission led by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) had identified several shortcomings that occurred in a tense and highly polarised environment. “These preliminary findings confirm the need for a comprehensive electoral reform that was already highlighted in past key recommendations.”

Georgia needs to revert to the implementation of the nine steps as a matter of priority, the EC said in its 2024 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy, adding it should repeal the Law on transparency of foreign influence, the legislative package on “family values and the protection of minors”, and refrain from other activities undermining the rule of law and fundamental rights. “Georgia’s alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy remains low, and while it made efforts to restrict the circumvention of sanctions via its territory, Georgia has not aligned with EU sanctions packages against Russia and Belarus,” the EC added.

“Moreover, the authorities need to stop spreading disinformation against EU values and instead step up actions to combat disinformation and tackle hostile political rhetoric,” the European Commission said, concluding: “Unless Georgia reverts the current course of action which jeopardises its EU path, and demonstrates tangible efforts to address outstanding concerns and key reforms, the Commission will not be in a position to consider recommending opening negotiations with Georgia.”

Find out more

Press release

Georgia Report 2024

Georgia 2024 Enlargement Package Factsheet

EU accession process step by step