European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee approves critical report on Georgia

On June 4, the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee approved a report on Georgia, calling for new parliamentary elections to be held under international and independent domestic observation. The report, adopted by a vote of 55 to 14, underscores serious concerns about the country’s democratic backsliding under the current government.

Until such elections are held, the European Parliament says it will continue to withhold recognition of Georgia’s current single-party parliament and president. “They are urging the EU and member states to impose coordinated personal sanctions against key figures of the ruling ‘Georgian Dream’ party and its backers, who they say are responsible for the democratic rollback in the country,” the report says.

The report, prepared by Lithuanian MEP Rasa Juknevičienė, also addresses the upcoming 2025 municipal elections, calling them another crucial test for Georgia’s democracy and political pluralism. It warns of “serious concerns about the further degradation of the electoral system and the overall democratic environment,” highlighting rushed changes to Georgia’s electoral code in December 2024 that undermine the principle of equal suffrage.

In a call for accountability, the committee urges the repeal of these changes, criticized by the Venice Commission, and calls for further EU sanctions if the municipal elections fail to meet democratic standards.

The report will now move forward to the plenary session of the European Parliament for further debate and voting.