MEPs demand suspension of EU candidate status for Georgia
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
More than 30 MEPs have written a letter to EU diplomat Josep Borrell demanding to suspend Georgia's candidate status in connection with the law on foreign agents, according to Civil.ge.
The letter says that the ongoing undemocratic behavior of the Georgian authorities, in particular their aggressiveness in promoting the Russian law on foreign agents, silencing and using force against peaceful demonstrators, has crossed all borders.
Such behavior has further increased tensions and polarization in Georgian politics and society, which is contrary to the nine steps that the Georgian government undertook when the country was granted EU candidate status, and it can no longer be ignored by the European Union.
Politicians urge to take a firm stance and take the following measures, which will send a clear signal to the Georgian authorities.
The MEPs emphasize that the behavior of the Georgian authorities and the leading Georgian Dream party contradicts the obligations of the EU candidate country.
Therefore, the document says the candidate status should be suspended without further progress in the EU accession process.
In addition, the signatories of the letter call for:
- review EU funding of Georgia's state budget and government programs;
- to immediately conduct an interim assessment of Georgia's progress in implementing the nine steps set out in the European Commission's recommendation.
Among the authors of the letter are Petras Auštrevičius (Lithuania), Viola von Cramon-Taubadel (Germany), Guy Verhofstadt (Belgium), Sandra Kalniete (Latvia) and 27 other MEPs.
Background
Georgia's ruling party, the Georgian Dream, has recently begun discussing a draft law on foreign agents in parliament. The draft law provides for government influence over companies that receive foreign funding, which is contrary to democratic principles.
A similar bill has already been passed in the authoritarian state of Russia.
On May 1, the Georgian parliament passed a bill on foreign agents in the second reading. After that, mass protests broke out in Tbilisi, and security forces attempted to disperse the demonstrators.
Read more about the events in Georgia in RBC-Ukraine's report.
