EU’s foreign policy chief Borrell concerned by Georgian bill on foreign influence

Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security, on Tuesday expressed his concerns over the bill proposed by former members of the ruling Georgian Dream party on foreign influence, which envisages registration of “non-commercial legal entities and media outlets as agents of foreign influence if they receive more than 20 percent of their finding from abroad.” 

 

In his comments for Radio Liberty, the EU official reminded the Georgian authorities that creating a favorable environment for civil society and media freedom was part of the 12-point conditions set by the bloc for Georgia last year for obtaining its membership candidate status. 

 

“According to international law, states are obliged to respect, protect and promote a safe environment for civil society, as well as to protect the media and freedom of expression”, Borrell said, adding foreign funding should be “facilitated not restricted” for the organizations in question as it was required for their work. 

 

The Georgian Dream ruling party officials said they had plans to vote for the bill, claiming it was demanding “minimum standards of transparency” unlike their American and Russian analogues which they said were “complete disaster”.