In a statement issued jointly with the European Commission on Wednesday, High Representative Josep Borrell has called on the Georgian government to retract its controversial "transparency of foreign influence" law and concentrate on fulfilling the conditions for EU integration. 

The move comes amidst widespread concern over the law's potential to curtail civil liberties and media freedom, casting a shadow over Georgia's progress towards European alignment. Borrell emphasized the imperative of upholding democratic values and urged Georgian authorities to commit to the reforms outlined in the EU's integration framework.

Borrell also emphasized the importance of protecting human rights, ensuring freedom of expression, and combating disinformation as prerequisites for Georgia's advancement on the EU path. 

The official reaffirmed the EU's commitment to supporting Georgians in their aspirations for a European future, provided that the necessary reforms are undertaken and democratic principles upheld.

The Georgian Parliament on Tuesday passed the controversial foreign transparency bill in its third and final reading amidst mass protests in Tbilisi and international criticism that it could impede the country’s European integration. 

Now the bill will be passed to the President to sign to go into effect, who had pledged to veto it.

The bill, initially proposed by the ruling party last year and retracted after mass protests, was resubmitted by the ruling power in March. Although the substance of the bill remained largely intact, amendments were made to the title, replacing the term "agent" with "Organization Pursuing the Interests of a Foreign Power" for entities deriving more than 20 percent of their income from abroad.

Critics both domestically and internationally have labeled the bill as a "Russian law," with foreign allies cautioning that it could hinder Georgia's European integration efforts, particularly after the country attained candidacy status within the European bloc last year.