23 non-governmental organizations operating in Georgia have stated that the threat of freezing Georgia's accession process to the European Union is real. Today, these organizations responded to the June 27 meeting of the European Council, during which EU leaders expressed serious concerns about recent developments and democratic regression in Georgia.
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In the statement from the non-governmental organizations, it is mentioned that, according to the leaders of the EU member states, the adoption of the Russian law is a significant setback in fulfilling the nine steps outlined by the European Commission for Georgia last year.
"The European Council called on the Georgian authorities to clarify their intentions by changing their current course, as this jeopardizes Georgia's path to the European Union and will lead to a de facto suspension of the accession process."
Additionally, the European Council urged the authorities to ensure free and fair elections in the fall of 2024 and to put an end to physical attacks, intimidation, and threats against civil society representatives, political leaders, civil activists, and journalists.
In the fall, the European Commission will present another enlargement report, which will assess Georgia's performance regarding the nine steps determined by the European Commission.
The threat of freezing Georgia's accession process to the European Union is real, as confirmed by statements made by high-ranking officials of the European Union and its member states. Should this happen, the responsibility for the European Union's decision rests with the government of Georgia," reads the statement.
Non-governmental organizations call on the government to:
- Withdraw the Russian law and other legislative initiatives that are against the fundamental principles and values of the European Union.
- Respect the will of the vast majority of Georgian citizens to become a member of the European family, and to safeguard every achievement made on the path to European integration.
- Follow the nine steps defined by the European Commission.
The statement is signed by: Georgian Reforms Association (GRASS); Eastern European Center for Multiparty Democracy (EECMD); Democracy Research Institute (DRI); Guardians of Democracy; Center for Economic Policy Research; Tbilisi Pride; Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information; Green Alternative; Fair Elections (ISFED); Civil Society Foundation; Court Watchman; Sapari; Association of Young Lawyers of Georgia (GYLA); Georgian Democratic Initiative (GDI); European Orbit of Georgia; Academy of the Future of Georgia; Social Justice Center; Institute for Tolerance and Diversity; Rights Georgia; Support Group for Women's Initiatives; Center for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims; Laboratory for Research of the Soviet Past; Transparency International Georgia.
