17/04/24 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 17 April, the High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, considered that the law on the ‘transparency of foreign influence’, adopted on first reading by the Georgian Parliament, was a very worrying development. They deplored the fact that this adoption at first reading had taken place despite repeated calls from the EU to withdraw the legislation in question, and despite protests from the public (see EUROPE 13384/5). The High Representative and the Commissioner also indicated that the proposed legislation would limit the capacity of civil society organisations and the media to operate. Finally, they warned that the final adoption of this law could “compromise Georgia’s path towards the EU”. On X (formerly Twitter), the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said that this draft law would distance Georgia from the EU instead of bringing it closer. (EV)