The Council stressed the importance of fair and free elections for parliament with unhindered observers’ access.
The European Council announced that the Georgian accession to the European Union has been suspended de facto, citing serious concerns over the actions of the Georgian Government. The decision was announced in a document posted on the Council website on 17th October 2024.
Salome Zurabishvili, the Georgian president, had met the Presidents of the European Commission and European Council in Brussels before the suspension of high level meetings with the pro-Russian Georgian government. Georgian Dream had previously adopted two controversial Russian style “family values” and “foreign agent” laws despite mass protests against restrictions on freedoms.
The council reaffirmed that the Union is ready to support the Georgians on their European journey. The council also reiterated its grave concern about the actions taken by the Georgian Government, which, in the words of the council, “runs contrary to the values and principals upon which the European Union was founded.”
In a stern warning, the European Council said that such an action “endangers Georgia’s European path and de facto stops the accession process.” It called on Georgia adopt “democratic reforms, comprehensive and durable, in line with core principles of European Integration.”
The European Council expressed its expectation for fair and free elections in Georgia, which will be held in accordance with international standards. The council emphasized the need for “unhindered entry for international and local election observers”, underlining the importance for transparency in the electoral processes. Georgia is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on 26 October 2024.
The European Council also emphasized the critical role that media freedom plays in Georgia’s democratic growth, stressing the “need to protect a freely independent and pluralistic media in the country.”
The council also highlighted the European Union’s commitment to peaceful conflict settlement and its policy non-recognition, engagement, and “unwavering” support for Georgia‘s sovereignty, independence, and geographic integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
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