2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Georgia
The European Parliament adopted by 490 votes to 147, with 49 abstentions, a resolution on Georgia.
Suspension of Georgia's integration into the Union
Parliament strongly deplores the fact that the Georgian Dream, the ruling party, has failed to take advantage of the historic opportunity offered to Georgia, as a candidate country, to move forward on the path to European integration, while an overwhelming majority of the population remains in favour of European integration. It stressed that Georgia's integration process into the Union has been effectively suspended due to the continued democratic backsliding in the country and the rigged parliamentary elections of October 2024, which represent a clear shift towards authoritarian rule, and the adoption of a series of anti-democratic legislative acts that run counter to the values and principles on which the Union is founded.
Members condemned the violent repression, arbitrary detentions ordered for political reasons and without sufficient legal grounds, as well as the alleged systematic torture of peaceful protesters, civil society actors, political opponents, and media representatives. They expressed concern about the lack of independence of the judiciary , where high-ranking judges with links to the Georgian Dream oversee politically motivated legal proceedings against peaceful protesters and government critics. They also deplored the dismissal of approximately 700 civil servants since December 2024 due to their participation in or support for pro-European protests.
Parliament stressed the need for an immediate and comprehensive audit of the EU’s policy towards Georgia given the ongoing democratic backsliding that constitutes a regression for many of Georgia’s democratic achievements and successful EU reforms. In this regard, it called on the Commission to review the implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement. It also called for immediate and targeted personal sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Continued backsliding on democracy and the rule of law and the autocratic consolidation of power
Members reiterated their position that the settlement of the current political and constitutional crisis in Georgia can only be achieved by way of new parliamentary elections, which should be held in the next few months in an improved electoral environment, overseen by an independent and impartial election administration. They stressed that it does not recognise the self-proclaimed authorities established by the Georgian Dream party following the rigged parliamentary elections of 26 October 2024.
Parliament condemned the illegal prosecution of political opponents by the Georgian Parliament's investigative committee and expressed concern over recent statements by the leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream party, indicating their intention to declare opposition parties unconstitutional. Members believe that the democratic choice of the Georgian people will not be expressed in the upcoming municipal elections in the fall of 2025 unless the opposition political figures who are imprisoned and detained are released.
Members condemned the recent adoption, without public consultation, of legislation that opens the door to further political persecution, limits the right to assembly, and further reduces the space for civil society, independent media, and the opposition to operate freely, including the Russian-inspired Foreign Agents Law and the new restrictive amendments to the Broadcasting Law. They called on the Georgian authorities to repeal these legislative changes and asked the Commission to strengthen its support for civil society and independent media.
The authorities are called upon to immediately put an end to intimidation, threats, politically motivated prosecutions, and physical attacks against civil society representatives, political leaders, civil activists, journalists, and media workers in Georgia. The resolution also called for the repeal of anti-LGBTI legislation, adopted by the Georgian Parliament in October 2024, which echoes Russian-inspired authoritarian policies and violates the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Parliament called on the Commission and the Council to review Georgia’s visa-free status, with the possibility of suspending it if the relevant benchmarks and standards on democratic governance and freedoms are not met because of the ruling party’s actions.
Alignment on foreign policy matters
Parliament deplored the fact that Georgian Dream is undoing decades of progress towards democracy, the rule of law and Euro-Atlantic integration and is alienating its allies, which had supported it throughout the process. Members regretted that Georgia has made no progress on implementing the EU’s recommendations on foreign, security and defence policy and that the level of Georgia’s alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy (CFSP) remains remarkably low, at 49 %, demonstrating its lack of commitment to European integration. They also regretted the fact that misalignment of Georgia’s foreign policy is leading to self-isolation and that Georgian Dream’s repressive regime is worsening the instability in the South Caucasus region and the Black Sea. Members noted that Georgia, under the current government, is moving in a direction that puts it at risk of becoming a Russian vassal state like Belarus.