Borrell announces measures against the Georgian government

Georgia, which is a candidate to join the European Union, must prepare for the consequences that may result from the eventual adoption of a law imposing stricter control over civil society. Yesterday, after a meeting of EU foreign ministers – including Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP), EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced that political contacts would be reduced and that financial support for the government was being considered.

In addition, support to the defense sector through the European Peace Facility (EFF) will also be considered. The Spaniard stressed that consensus among European Union countries is not necessary to reduce financial contributions. This is important because the Hungarian government considers Georgian law unproblematic and rejects punitive measures.

26 European Union countries agree to this

Borrell said that 26 out of 27 EU countries agreed that the law and all the negative developments associated with it are pushing Georgia away from the EU. If the government does not change course, the country will not make any progress towards the European Union.

In May, the Georgian parliament passed a law imposing stricter oversight of civil society, despite weeks of massive protests. This decision also overrode the veto used by pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili. The ruling Georgian Dream party, which has a majority in parliament, is using the law to tighten accountability for NGOs that receive more than 20 percent of their funds from abroad.