Georgia: statement by HR/VP @kajakallas and the Commissioner for Enlargement, @MartaKosEU on the situation in Georgia.
Read more: https://t.co/Ivjx78Vo9S
“Democracies do not oppress opposition voices or curtail freedom of media” - Agreement reached yesterday on need to halt visa free regime for diplomatic passport holders. @EU_Commission will table proposal on this already this year.
“The EU strongly condemns the violence against peaceful protesters, who are standing firm for their European and democratic future. These actions by the Georgian government have direct consequences on our relationship.”
Statement by the High Representative / Vice-President of the Commission @kajakallas and Commissioner for Enlargement @Marta1Kos on Georgia. ⤵️
https://t.co/AgmBily4uF
We stand with the Georgian people and their choice for a European future.
We condemn the violence against protesters & regret signals from ruling party not to pursue Georgia's path to EU and democratic backsliding of the county.
This will have direct consequences from EU side.
Very sombre assessment from the EU of Georgia’s backsliding.
Georgia applied to join the EU but since being granted candidate status, this country has moved away from that objective at an alarming pace.
Today, EU Foreign Ministers discuss Georgia. Due to insufficient political commitment from 🇬🇪government to necessary reforms on EU path, including insignificant progress on 9 Steps over last year, 🇬🇪’s 🇪🇺accession process remains stopped
🔗https://t.co/csi0vXrnut
#EUEnlargement
Really sad that the democratic backsliding, hostile rhetoric and disinformation have lead to this. But Georgia🇬🇪 can reverse this and return to the EU🇪🇺path. In line with the overwhelming desire of the Georgian people.
Georgia🇬🇪 will lose €121 million in EU🇪🇺 assistance, as a result of democratic backsliding.
Annual allocations are not all spent in the same year, hence remaining funds from 2022 and 2023 directly benefitting the authorities will be lost