EU ambassador: ‘These findings are devastating for Georgia’s European aspirations’
EU envoy on Georgia
The findings of the European Commission’s report are devastating for Georgia’s European aspirations, said EU Ambassador Pawel Herczyński.
The diplomat stressed that responsibility for this lies with the ruling Georgian Dream party and listed all the factors undermining Georgia’s European integration.
At the same time, Herczyński noted that the doors to the European Union remain open for Georgia if the government chooses to change course and return to the values and principles on which the EU is founded.
What did EU envoy say
Pawel Herczyński: “EU membership is a strategic and sovereign right and choice of every state. By applying for membership, each country commits to reforming its institutions and legal system with the aim of gradually aligning them with EU norms and standards. Each country also agrees that the European Commission will annually assess its readiness for EU membership.
The progress made by all candidates, including Georgia, since 2023 has been evaluated in the European Commission’s annual enlargement report. This package, consisting of reports on ten candidate countries, was published today. The report provides a comprehensive, fact-based assessment of how far Georgia has advanced in fulfilling the commitments it made when applying for EU membership.
Some may ask why we are preparing a report on Georgia if the enlargement process has effectively been suspended at the initiative of the Georgian authorities. The reason is clear: enlargement is a process based on merit and transformation. The annual report offers an opportunity to assess what Georgia has achieved and where it stands on its path toward the EU. The document once again reaffirms that the EU’s doors remain open, provided that the Georgian authorities take the necessary steps.
As the EU ambassador to Georgia, it is not easy for me to present this year’s report. Unfortunately, its findings are devastating for Georgia’s European aspirations. The truth is that Georgia is now much further away from EU membership than it was in 2023, when it was granted candidate status. The overall level of democratic regression is absolutely unprecedented. Over the past 12 months, there has been serious backsliding in both the fundamental principles of enlargement and the criteria for candidate status.
We have witnessed a rapid erosion of the rule of law. State institutions have been used as tools to pursue political goals. The independence and impartiality of the judiciary have been undermined by legislative changes, creating a risk of judicial capture. Systematic repressive actions have damaged civic space and the credibility of the media. Law enforcement authorities have used excessive force with complete impunity.
The Georgian authorities have periodically spread hostile, anti-European rhetoric, disinformation, and conspiracy theories aimed at undermining relations between Georgia and the EU. The arrests of leading opposition figures, combined with the ruling party’s statements about banning some opposition parties, represent a direct attack on one of the European Union’s fundamental principles — democratic pluralism.
Today’s report also details how, since last year, Georgia’s progress on the technical aspects of EU standards has significantly slowed.”
EU envoy on Georgia
