EU Council: Georgian Gov’t current actions jeopardise European path

The Council of the European Union has warned that the “course of action” taken by the Georgian Government risks jeopardising the country’s European path, urging immediate steps to address key reforms and visa liberalisation benchmarks.

In its latest enlargement report, the Council noted Georgia’s “moderate level of preparation” in developing a functioning market economy. While commending the government’s continued implementation of “sound fiscal and monetary policies,” the Council emphasized the need for Georgia to strengthen the independence of its central bank and implement further structural reforms to advance its economic integration with the European Union.

The Council also expressed concern over Georgia’s progress in meeting the visa liberalisation criteria. Specifically, it called on the Georgian Government to urgently fulfill the outstanding benchmarks, including aligning its visa policy with that of the EU, addressing the issue of unfounded asylum applications, and ensuring full compliance with fundamental rights requirements.

Furthermore, the Council acknowledged Georgia’s continued implementation of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), as a positive step in the country’s EU integration process. However, it emphasized that further progress is needed for Georgia to fully align with EU standards.

The EU reaffirmed its support for Georgia’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

The Council reiterated the EU’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and its policy of non-recognition and engagement, which is demonstrated through the continued presence of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia.

In conclusion, the EU Council underlined that while Georgia has made some progress, the current trajectory of its actions poses a serious risk to the country’s European future. Immediate reforms and alignment with EU standards are crucial for advancing Georgia’s integration into the European Union.