Josep Borrell spoke out and condemned Georgia for its approval of the so-called “Russian law” in its third and final reading. In a joint statement with the European Commission, Borrell expressed his concern that this legislation contradicts Georgia’s aspirations for EU membership and emphasized the need for its complete removal.
“The adoption of this law negatively impacts Georgia’s progress on the EU path. The choice on the way forward is in Georgia’s hands,” they write.
“We urge the Georgian authorities to withdraw the law, uphold their commitment to the EU path and advance the necessary reforms.”
“The EU stands ready to continue supporting Georgians working towards a European future,” the statement says.
The foreign policy chief had originally planned to issue a joint statement condemning the legislation approved by the 27 member states immediately following the third reading on Tuesday afternoon. However, diplomats in Brussels revealed that Hungary and Slovakia intervened, as their prime ministers have embraced pro-Russian stances and are inclined to oppose harsh criticisms directed at the Kremlin and its global partners.
The lack of consensus led to a change in plans, resulting in Borrell and Oliver Várhelyi releasing a joint statement. However, disagreements between the two caused a delay in the initiative. Eventually, the statement was published nearly 24 hours after the third reading, but this time it was co-signed with the entire European Commission instead of just Várhelyi. This delay was significant considering the urgency of the situation and the swift condemnation from the United States. Borrell’s social media posts about his visit to Washington and the Israel-Hamas conflict only served to increase frustration over his prolonged silence.
“The EU has clearly and repeatedly stated that the spirit and content of the law are not in line with EU core norms and values,” the statement says.
“It will undermine the work of civil society and independent media while freedom of association and freedom of expression are fundamental rights at the core of Georgia’s commitments as part of the Association Agreement and of any EU accession path.”