**Georgia’s EU Bid Hinges on Repealing Controversial Laws**
For Georgia to move forward with its bid to join the European Union, it needs to take several steps. First and foremost, the country must repeal laws that are against EU standards. This includes a law on “transparency of foreign influence” and legislation related to family values.
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Georgia, Meline Arakelian, said in an interview that these laws go against European human rights standards. The diplomat expressed concerns about the damage done by the Foreign Influence Transparency Act to civil society in Georgia. She also warned that the family values law could lead to Soviet-style censorship.
**EU’s Conditions Must be Met**
The ambassador emphasized that meeting EU conditions is not a one-way street. Georgia must take concrete steps, including repealing the controversial laws and fulfilling nine key requirements for further progress on its EU accession path. The ball, she said, is in Georgia’s court.
**Trust Needs to be Restored**
However, restoring trust with the Georgian government may take time. The ambassador noted that the past months have seen a lot of negative rhetoric from high-level officials in Georgia about the European Union. This has undermined confidence in the Georgian government’s commitment to EU values and reforms.
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