Swedish Foreign Minister: Georgia’s new grant law “fundamentally incompatible” with EU Values

Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Stenergard has strongly criticized Georgia’s newly adopted law on foreign grants, stating that it is “fundamentally incompatible” with EU values and core democratic principles.” Her remarks, shared on social media, add to a growing wave of international condemnation over the legislation, which many see as a serious blow to civil society in Georgia.

“Yesterday, the latest of laws severely restricting civil society was rushed through and adopted in Georgia. This is fundamentally incompatible with EU values and core democratic principles,” Stenergard wrote on X.

The criticism follows the Georgian Parliament’s approval of controversial amendments to the Organic Law on Political Unions of Citizens in its third reading on April 16. 82 parliamentarians from the ruling Georgian Dream and its splinter group, People’s Power party, voted for the amendments.

Under the new rules, any foreign entity seeking to provide grants to local organizations must first obtain formal approval from the government. If approval is denied, the funding will be deemed illegal. The Anti-Corruption Bureau, led by Razhden Kuprashvili, has been tasked with monitoring and enforcing the law — a move that has sparked concerns about political interference and repression of independent organizations.

Yesterday, the latest of laws severely restricting civil society was rushed through and adopted i Georgia. This is fundamentally incompatible with EU values and core democratic principles. https://t.co/BoeFsuujzK

— Maria M Stenergard (@MariaStenergard) April 17, 2025