Members of the European Parliament deplored on Wednesday 17 June, the “persistent democratic backsliding” in Georgia and the setbacks observed in implementing the nine priorities that were conditions for granting the country candidate country status.
In the report by Rasa Juknevičienė (EPP, Lithuanian), which they adopted (436 votes in favour, 145 votes against and 47 abstentions), they stressed that the EU’s and Member States’ commitment to the Georgian authorities should be made strictly conditional on the implementation of “concrete and verifiable steps” to halt democratic backsliding, restrictions and the violent anti-EU disinformation campaign.
MEPs called on the authorities to improve the electoral system, combat oligarchy and repeal repressive laws. All political prisoners must be released, they added.
The European Parliament is calling for sanctions against those responsible for the regime’s stranglehold on the state, repression and regime-sponsored propaganda, as well as against the founder of Georgian Dream and former prime minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili, his family members and his companies.
It further calls on Member States to adopt a united and coordinated approach, aiming to limit political contact with Georgian Dream authorities to matters of strict necessity, while maintaining and strengthening engagement with civil society, independent media and academic institutions.
The European Parliament also reiterates its support for the Georgian people and their struggle for a “European and democratic Georgia” despite the democratic backsliding.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/med (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)