Georgia to pause its European Union accession efforts
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Georgia has decided to pause its European Union accession efforts and reject EU grants in response to a European Parliament resolution that denounced the South Caucasus nation’s recent parliamentary election as being “neither free nor fair.”
Police clashed with protesters in the Georgian capital Tbilisi early on Friday, after the country’s ruling party said the government would suspend talks on European Union accession and refuse budgetary grants until 2028.
The country’s interior ministry said three police officers were injured.
Police ordered protesters to disperse, fired water cannon and deployed pepper spray and tear gas as masked young people tried to smash their way into the parliament. Some protesters tossed fireworks at police while shouting “Russians” and “Slaves!”
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the opening of accession talks with the EU would be removed from Georgia’s agenda and that the country would refuse EU budgetary grants until the end of 2028, “when Georgia will be adequately prepared economically to open negotiations to become a member in 2030.”
The EU last month said Georgia’s accession was halted as the country “has gone backwards,” according to a progress report.
Kobakhidze said the Georgian government’s decision aims to show “European politicians and bureaucrats, completely devoid of European values, that blackmail is not the way to address Georgia, but respect is.”
“We are a proud and self-respecting nation with a rich history; therefore, it’s categorically unacceptable to view EU integration as an act of mercy,” Kobakhidze said.
Kobakhidze further remarked that Georgia will become an EU member “with dignity, rather than by begging.” To that end, the country will continue to fulfill its obligations under the Association Agreement with the bloc, albeit without EU funding, according to the prime minister.
Georgia was granted EU candidate status last December on the condition of implementing reforms. However, the country’s leadership has since faced criticism from the bloc for an authoritarian pivot.
In May, the ruling Georgian Dream party adopted a Russian-style law on “foreign agents,” widely regarded as a tool for silencing civil society.
Moreover, the recent parliamentary election, in which Georgian Dream claimed victory, was marred by violence and irregularities. International observers did not declare them free and fair. Pro-Western opposition groups, as well as Georgia’s president, contested the results, sparking street protests.
A resolution adopted by the European Parliament on Thursday called for the EU to impose sanctions on top Georgian Dream politicians.
