In a letter to European Commission Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, 76 MEPs call for the suspension of Georgia’s EU candidate status, a review of EU funding of the Georgian state budget and an interim assessment of Georgia’s progress in implementing the nine steps set out by the European Commission for the opening of accession negotiations.

“The continued undemocratic behaviour of the Georgian authorities, in particular their aggressiveness in pushing through a ‘Russian-style’ law on foreign agents, silencing and using force against peaceful demonstrators, has crossed the line. Such behaviour has further increased tensions and polarisation within Georgian politics and society, which runs counter to the nine steps to which the Georgian government committed itself when the country was granted EU candidate status, and can no longer be ignored by the European Union. We call on you to take a firm stance and the following measures, which would send a clear signal to the Georgian authorities.

First, the behaviour of the Georgian authorities and the leading party Georgian Dream is contrary to the obligations of an EU candidate country. Georgia’s candidate status should therefore be suspended without any further progress in the accession process.

Second, EU funding of the Georgian state budget and government programmes should be reviewed.

Third, an interim assessment of Georgia’s progress in implementing the nine steps set out in the Commission’s recommendation of 8 November 2023 should be carried out without further delay. This measure was included in the Parliament’s resolution of 25 April 2024 on attempts to reintroduce a foreign agent law in Georgia and its restrictions on civil society. In recent years we have worked tirelessly to support the Georgian people and their aspirations to join the EU. We remain determined to do so, but the democratic criteria for all EU candidate countries are the same and must be respected”, - reads the letter.