Swedish minister for EU affairs: 'Georgia is moving in the wrong direction'

French and Swedish ministers on Georgia

France’s minister for European affairs, Benjamin Haddad, told Euroskop that the Georgian government’s repression of the opposition, civil society and journalists is hindering the country’s European aspirations.

Meanwhile, Sweden’s minister for EU affairs, Jessika Rosengrantz, said that “everything is moving in the wrong direction” in Georgia due to the policies of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

EU envoy: 'Ukraine and Moldova are ahead of Georgia, which is now further from EU than when it received candidate status'

“The European Commission asked Georgian Dream to clarify the issues raised in its previous negative report, but the answers it received were unsatisfactory.”

Benjamin Haddad: “The European Commission has made its position on Georgia absolutely clear in its enlargement report. The actions of the Georgian Dream party, including repression of the opposition, peaceful protesters, civil society representatives and independent journalists, are obstructing the country’s European aspirations. This is regrettable, as the majority of Georgia’s population supports a European path. This aspiration is strong and enjoys the backing of France and other European countries. But what has happened since the 2024 parliamentary elections, and especially the recent departure from a liberal course, has pushed the country even further away from Europe.

We call on Georgian Dream to fully change its stance, begin constructive dialogue with the opposition, work on holding repeat parliamentary elections, and release arrested political opponents, journalists and civil society activists. Only then can the country return to its European ambitions. Otherwise, this process will remain frozen.”

European Commission report: Georgia must immediately halt its democratic backsliding

On 4 November, the European Commission published reports on political developments in ten countries seeking to join the European Union, including Georgia

Jessika Rosengrantz: “Sweden has long welcomed the Georgian people’s aspiration to join the European Union and become part of the European family, but we also see a lack of real ambition or interest from the Georgian government to follow this path or carry out the necessary reforms.

On the contrary, everything is moving in the wrong direction, and as a result, the process is not progressing. My message to the Georgian people is clear: you belong to the European family, but the government must act to implement the required reforms.”

Marta Kos: 'Under Georgian Dream, Georgia will not join EU even by 2030'

“I don’t care what they say about me, but their lies about the EU and claims that they will bring the country into it themselves worry me”

French and Swedish ministers on Georgia