EC Publishes Second Enlargement Report as EU Ambassador Highlights “Unprecedented Backsliding” in Judiciary and Fundamental Rights

The European Commission has published its report on the alignment of Georgia with the EU acquis – its body of common rights and applications. This provides an assessment of the country’s accession readiness.

The press release of the Commission underlines the findings of OSCE/ODIHR on the parliamentary elections in Georgia, noting that the observer “identified several shortcomings that occurred in a tense and highly polarised environment,” and emphasizing that “these preliminary findings confirm the need for a comprehensive electoral reform that was already highlighted in past key recommendations.”

The report says that the Commission’s last year’s recommendations concerning fundamental human rights “have not been implemented.” Commenting on the report, EU Ambassador Paweł Herczyński stated: “Let me say clearly: this [backsliding on Judiciary and Fundamental Rights chapter] is unprecedented for a country that aspires to join the EU.”

Ambassador emphasized that “Georgia’s candidate status was granted ‘on the understanding’ that nine steps – related mostly to rule of law and democracy – would be taken. Unfortunately, there was no sufficient political commitment by the Georgian authorities to implement the necessary reforms.” The Commission on its part, stressed that in the coming year Georgia should, in particular, repeal the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence and repeal the legislative package on Family Values and Protection of Minors.

The report notes Georgia’s rate of alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy remains considerably low at 49% (though up from 44% during the previous cycle) and that “Georgia has not participated in EU crisis management missions and operations under the common security and defence policy since June 2023.”

The report also stresses that “a number of direct flights to various destinations to/from Russia has significantly increased during the reporting period,” nuancing though that “Georgia cooperated with the EU to prevent circumvention of sanctions.”

“The EU supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and has been engaged since 2008 in peaceful conflict resolution efforts, including through the EU Monitoring Mission and the work of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia,” emphasizes the report.

Ambassador Herczyński summarized the spirit of the report by saying “This year, Georgia has gone backwards while other candidate countries have advanced, some of them already opening accession negotiations.”

He said the EU’s door remained open, but said the process is merit based and “without shortcuts” advising the leaders to read the report “very, very carefully” to find the path to re-engagement. “Georgia’s next government should reverse course, recommit to democratic principles and values if it wants to bring the country closer to the EU. This has to start with full transparency about the electoral process,” concluded Ambasador Herczyński.

Also Read:

• 03/02/2023 – EC Publishes Analytical Reports on Alignment with the Acquis