European Integration Committee chair slams ‘harsh language’ in EU enlargement report

Levan Makhashvili, Chair of Georgia’s Parliamentary Committee on European Integration, has criticized the European Commission’s latest enlargement report, arguing that its tone did not support the long-term partnership between Georgia and the EU.

Makhashvili said the document used “overly harsh language” and applied standards to Georgia that were not consistently applied within the European Union itself.

“The harsh wording on which this report is based does not serve the bilateral, long-term agenda,” he claimed.

Commenting on the transparency law - widely criticized by the EU as restricting civil society - Makhashvili claimed EU criticism was “incomprehensible,” noting that “almost one-third of EU member states” have similar or stricter regulations.

He also defended recent legislation restricting the promotion of LGBT issues, insisting it was aimed solely at protecting minors and family values.

“It is not directed against anyone. The only purpose of this law is to prevent the promotion and dissemination of these issues,” he said.

Makhashvili called on the EU to avoid creating “artificial and unfair barriers” in the accession process, labeling such an approach “a geopolitical mistake.”