Georgia’s adoption of a controversial "foreign influence" law is adversely impacting the country’s progress towards European integration, according to high-level EU officials.
After some delay, European foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell and European Commission Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi spoke out against the law on Wednesday, pressing for its withdrawal.
On Tuesday, the Georgian Parliament passed the foreign influence bill despite widespread protests on the street. Critics argue it’s modelled after a Russian law, steering the country away from Europe and back towards Moscow.
Previously, the EU granted Georgia official candidate status for union membership, provided the country adhered to nine European Commission recommendations. These guidelines pertained to human rights protection and freedom for press and civil society.
"The EU has repeatedly made it clear that the spirit and content of the law are not in line with fundamental EU standards and values," Borrell and Varhelyi highlighted in their joint statement. They urged Georgian officials "to repeal the law, maintain their commitment towards the EU path, and advance the necessary reforms outlined in the nine steps."
Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister Hadja Lahbib echoed the EU head of diplomacy's message on social media. Belgium "regrets" that the Georgian parliament has passed a law that moves the country away from European values, and urges the authorities "to reconsider this action and keep their commitment to the EU path."
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk also expressed deep regret over Georgia's passage of a foreign influence law.
Türk stated in a Wednesday press release from Geneva that Georgian officials and lawmakers have disregarded numerous warnings from human rights advocates and civil society organisations. The consequences for freedom of speech and assembly in Georgia may now be significant.
