The European Commission has reiterated that Georgia’s EU accession process remains de facto halted, warning that the country continues to fall short of the nine steps outlined in the Commission’s recommendation for granting candidate status.
In its 2026 Enlargement Package, adopted on Wednesday, the Commission said the ruling party had continued to undermine democratic principles, the rule of law, fundamental rights and civic space, while enabling further state capture.
“Georgia’s EU accession process remains de facto halted, and the Commission’s assessment of Georgia as a candidate country in name only remains valid,” the report states.
The Commission warned that unless Georgian authorities change course and recommit to the fundamental principles underpinning EU membership, the country will continue to miss out on the benefits of candidate status and the pre-accession process.
The report also stressed that the pace of reforms, particularly in democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, directly determines the speed of EU accession for each candidate country.
Meanwhile, the Commission highlighted significant progress made by Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine, which have advanced their accession negotiations, with negotiation clusters opened and chapters provisionally closed at an unprecedented pace.
The Commission also presented indicative roadmaps for these four countries, outlining key milestones for the year ahead.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the progress achieved by candidate countries over the past year was turning the prospect of enlargement into reality.
“Step by step, we are building a more complete, stronger Union,” she said.
The 2026 Enlargement Package also introduces a common framework for the gradual integration of candidate countries into strategic sectors, including energy, transport, digital services and defence.
Despite its criticism of the Georgian authorities, the Commission reaffirmed its continued support for Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for the European aspirations of the Georgian people.
