Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, on Thursday convened with the Director General of the European Commission to discuss matters concerning neighborhood policy and enlargement negotiations, the parliament press office said. 

In recognition of the “fruitful collaboration” between Georgia and the EU in achieving candidate country status last year, Speaker Papuashvili conveyed appreciation for the ongoing support.

The agenda encompassed the progress on the nine-step plan outlined by the European Union for opening accession talks with Tbilisi. The Director General reaffirmed commitment to further collaboration with Georgia.

The discussions also delved into current events within Georgia and the wider regional landscape, underscoring shared interests, the press office noted. 

Gert Jan Koopman visit came amid mass protests in Tbilisi against the foreign transparency bill, which was resubmitted by the ruling party in March, after its initial rejection last year due to mass rallies. 

Georgia’s foreign partners have cautioned Georgian authorities that passing the foreign transparency bill could hinder the country's progress toward EU accession. The bill mandates that NGOs register and submit financial declarations annually if they obtain more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad, with penalties of 25,000 GEL for non-compliance.

Western-funded NGOs and media outlets contend that their financial transparency and compliance are already evident, suggesting that the government's true aim is to restrict organizations addressing human rights and corruption.