On June 27, 2024, the European Council, which brings together the leaders of 27 EU member states, expressed serious concern about the recent developments and democratic regression in Georgia. According to the leaders of the EU member states, the adoption of the Russian law is a clear setback in the process of implementing the 9 steps given to Georgia by the European Commission last year. The implementation of the 9 steps, along with commitment to European values, is a prerequisite for opening the accession negotiations with the European Union.

The European Council called on the Georgian authorities to clarify their intentions by reversing the current course of action which jeopardizes Georgia’s EU path, “de facto leading to a halt of the accession process”. In addition, the European Council called on the  authorities to ensure that “the parliamentary elections this autumn are free and fair” and to end the increasing acts of intimidation, threats and physical assaults against civil society representatives, political leaders, civil activists and journalists.

The European Commission will present its next enlargement report in autumn, which will assess, among other issues, implementation of the 9 steps set out by the European Commission.

The threat of Georgia’s EU accession process being frozen is real, as is also confirmed by statements made by high officials of the European Union and its member states. In case such a decision is made by the European Union, the Georgian authorities will bear full responsibility for it. Based on the above, we would like to once again call on the authorities to:

- withdraw the Russian law and other legislative initiatives that contradict the fundamental principles and values ​​of the European Union;

- not resist the will of the vast majority of Georgian citizens to become a member of the European family, and to safeguard each achievement made on the path of European integration;

- implement the 9 steps defined by the European Commission.

Signatories:

1. Georgia’s Reforms Associates (GRASS)

2. Eastern European Center for Multiparty Democracy

3. Democracy Research Institute (DRI)

4. Democracy Defenders

5. Economic Policy Research Center

6. Tbilisi Pride

7. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information

8. Green Alternative

9. Fair Elections (ISFED)

10. Civil Society Foundation

11. Court Watch

12. Sapari

13. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA)

14. Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI)

15. European Orbit of Georgia

16. Georgia’s Future Academy

17. Social Justice Center

18. Tolerance and Diversity Institute

19. Rights Georgia

20. Women's Initiatives Supporting Group

21. Center for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims

22. Soviet Past Laboratory Research