The European Commission on Wednesday said it recommended the European Council to grant Georgia the bloc’s candidacy with nine conditions, with new conditions referring the fight against disinformation and foreign information manipulation about the EU and its values.

The European Commission also required Georgia to bring its foreign and security policy closer to the EU. 

Currently, Georgia's rate of compliance with the EU's foreign and security policy is about 43%, while it exceeded 60% a couple of years ago. The indicators of Moldova and Ukraine are much higher.

The full list and sequence of reservations is as follows:

Combating disinformation, foreign information manipulation and [foreign] interference about the EU and its values;

Improvement of the indicator of alignment of Georgia's foreign policy with the common foreign and security policy of the EU;

Additional fight against political polarization - including by working more inclusively with opposition parties in the parliament, especially on the legislation related to the European integration of Georgia;

Ensuring a free, fair and competitive electoral process – especially in 2024 – and fully taking into account the recommendations of the OSCE's Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Office. completing electoral reforms, including ensuring adequate voter representation in advance of election day;

Further improve parliamentary oversight, particularly of the security services. Ensuring the institutional independence and impartiality of key institutions, especially the election administration, the National Bank and the Communications Regulatory Commission;

Completion and implementation of comprehensive and effective judicial reform, including the comprehensive reform of the High Council of Justice and the Prosecutor's Office, fully implementing the recommendations of the Venice Commission through a transparent and inclusive process;

Ensuring the effectiveness and institutional independence and impartiality of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Special Investigation Service and the Personal Data Protection Service. Considering the recommendations of the Venice Commission regarding these bodies through an inclusive process. accumulation of strong experience in effective investigation of cases of corruption and organized crime;

Improvement of the existing action plan on de-oligarchization, so that de-oligarchization is implemented with a multi-sectoral, systemic approach, in accordance with the recommendations of the Venice Commission and as a result of a transparent and inclusive process, with the involvement of opposition parties and civil society;

Improving standards of human rights protection, including by adopting an ambitious human rights strategy and ensuring freedom of assembly and expression.