Georgia faces loss of €121 mln in EU aid over ‘democratic decline’

The European Union has announced that Georgia will lose €121.3 million in financial aid due to concerns over democratic backsliding, particularly following the implementation of the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence earlier this year.

The decision was confirmed by the European Union Representation in Georgia, citing recommendations from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR).

The forfeited funds were allocated for 2022 to 2024, with €12 million from 2022, €72 million from 2023, and €37.3 million from 2024 set to be withdrawn.

The suspension of this aid follows concerns about Georgia’s deteriorating democratic standards, especially the government’s approach towards civil society and the media. The EU has made it clear that the aid, which was left unspent and meant to support governance reforms, will no longer be available to the Georgian government due to these issues.