The EU Foreign Affairs Council discussed the political situation in Georgia at a meeting on 14 September.
Speaking at a press conference after the Council, EU High Representative Josep Borrell told journalists that “the ruling party’s recent actions, statements and electoral promises take the country away from the European path and signal a shift towards authoritarianism.”
“That is why the European Union accession process is de facto halted,” he added.
Borrel called for waiting for the results of the parliamentary elections in Georgia, scheduled for 26 October, “which will be a crucial test for democracy in Georgia and its European Union path.”
"We discussed the situation in Moldova and the situation in Georgia. Both countries have a crucial vote [ahead] in the next [few] weeks.
Moldova is making significant progress on the European Union path despite increasing Russian intimidation. We see Russia is sparing no efforts to subvert the electoral process through hybrid attacks and widespread illegal vote buying. We commend the resilience of the Moldovan government in face of these unprecedented challenges, and we will continue to offer our support.
Georgia is a bleaker picture. The ruling party’s recent actions, statements and electoral promises take the country away from the European path and signal a shift towards authoritarianism. That is why the European Union accession process is de facto halted.
You know the decision taken by the [European] Commission from the point of view of access to European funding. Let’s wait for the upcoming Parliamentarian elections, which will be a crucial test for democracy in Georgia and its European Union path", - Borrell said.
