Georgia’s relationship with the European Union is coming under increasing strain, as Members of the European Parliament openly criticise both the country’s political direction and the EU’s response.
During a debate at the European Parliament’s Human Rights Subcommittee on 19 March, several Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) raised concerns about democratic standards, human rights and media freedom in Georgia - a country that has long sought closer ties with the EU.
Georgia was granted EU candidate status in 2023, marking a significant step towards potential membership. However, relations have since deteriorated, particularly following political developments in 2024 and 2025.
Spanish MEP Nacho Sánchez Amor said the EU is “not doing anything” meaningful in response to recent events. While visa restrictions on holders of diplomatic passports have already been introduced, he questioned why stronger, targeted sanctions against officials have not been pursued. He also criticised what he described as a lack of political will within the EU to send a clear message.
Tensions escalated in 2024 when Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, advanced controversial legislation commonly referred to as the “foreign agents law”. Critics, including the EU, argue that the law risks undermining civil society and independent media by forcing organisations receiving foreign funding to register under stricter rules.
The situation intensified further following the disputed 2024 parliamentary elections and a statement by the prime minister announcing a pause in EU accession negotiations until 2028. These developments triggered large-scale protests in the capital, Tbilisi, which continued into 2025.
Demonstrators accused the government of steering the country away from its long-standing European aspirations. International organisations and media reports have since documented cases of excessive force by police, as well as arrests and the alleged mistreatment of protesters.
Lithuanian MEP Rasa Juknevičienė argued that the current situation reflects a deeper, long-term shift. According to her, the leadership of Georgian Dream - founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili in 2012 - has consistently presented itself as pro-European while gradually consolidating power and weakening democratic institutions.
The debate also highlighted concerns over press freedom. Georgian journalist Guram Rogava described how he was seriously injured while covering protests, stating that he was attacked by riot police despite clearly identifying himself as a member of the media. He added that no meaningful investigation has taken place.
Despite mounting criticism, the European Union has struggled to agree on a unified response. While some member states support stronger measures, including sanctions, others - most notably Hungary - have blocked consensus, limiting the EU’s ability to act collectively.
The Georgian Dream government has not issued new comments during this period, as the country is observing a period of mourning following the death of Patriarch Ilia II, one of Georgia’s most respected religious figures. However, in previous statements, the party has rejected accusations of democratic backsliding, instead accusing the EU of biased assessments and excessive bureaucracy.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has outlined an expanded vision for the Zangezur Corridor, describing it not simply as a transport route connectin...
An overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk killed an eight-year-old child, injured others and damaged resid...
President Donald Trump has said the U.S. has “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran warns the key waterway will not reopen while Washing...
One hundred years after the First World War and more than eighty years after the devastation of the Second World War gave rise to the United Nations, humanity once again finds itself living in an age of permanent crisis.
Iran said it was nearing a final pact with Oman defining new shipping lanes between them through the Strait of Hormuz but repeated that the U.S. must meet other conditions.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called for Iran to pay compensation for decades of deaths and damage, adding a new demand to peace talks as Tehran seeks compensation and sanctions relief before reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
A criminal court in Damascus has sentenced former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for premeditated murder, torture, arbitrary detention and crimes against humanity, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is preparing to deploy additional North Korean forces on its territory and has received more ballistic missiles from Pyongyang, arguing that their growing military cooperation poses a threat beyond Ukraine.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has outlined an expanded vision for the Zangezur Corridor, describing it not simply as a transport route connecting mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan exclave, but as a future platform for energy, telecommunications and wider regional integration.
Iran will soon join the New Development Bank (NDB), the lender established by BRICS nations, Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said in a state media report on Wednesday ahead of a BRICS finance meeting in India.
Iran will host senior officials from the five Caspian Sea littoral states at a conference in Tehran on 23 September, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and addressing environmental challenges facing the sea.
Afghanistan and Turkmenistan signed a gas-purchase memorandum for the TAPI pipeline in Herat on Monday, as the two sides pushed for agreement on pricing and faster progress on the regional energy project.
As Russian officials praise Georgia’s “pragmatic” approach towards Moscow, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has explained why he will not describe Russia as an “enemy”.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment