Zviad Chumburidze, Secretary General of the EU-Georgia Business Council (EUGBC), stated that the organization had to stop collecting membership fees from foreign companies to avoid registration under Georgia’s so-called “FARA law.” The decision, he explained in a BMGTV interview, was necessary to prevent the council from being classified as channeling foreign influence through its funding.
Chumburidze noted that the move significantly impacted EUGBC’s budget, reducing resources for conferences, business forums, and other activities. Approximately 40–45% of the council’s members are foreign companies, and halving membership contributions created operational challenges.
The council continues to organize events, including the Black Sea Platform forum, but now operates largely in a limited, passive mode. Chumburidze highlighted the difficulty of explaining the situation to European and regional partners while maintaining the council’s credibility and activity.
He also criticized the lack of government communication, saying that without cooperation with authorities, initiatives like strengthening the “Middle Corridor” are almost impossible. According to Chumburidze, the situation reflects a disconnect between Georgia’s European aspirations and current domestic governance, describing it as a “betrayal of national interests,” whether conscious or not.
