The Georgian government is jeopardizing the country's European integration due to the proposed law on foreign agents. It is yet another sign of the alarming trajectory of democratic and human rights backsliding in Georgia. This opinion was expressed by 12 foreign ministers of the EU member states, addressing the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Policy, Oliver Varhelyi. We are talking about a joint address by the foreign ministers of the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden.

“For many years we have wholeheartedly supported Georgia's reform program and European aspirations, and today we continue to support the Georgian people and their European choice - the choice of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms. However, having received EU candidate status from the European Council last December with the condition of further reforms, the Georgian government, to our deep regret, is on track to jeopardize this opportunity to advance the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration,” the appeal says.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag, Michael Roth, who is on a visit to Tbilisi, said that Georgia’s place is in Europe. “But please, dear government, dear ruling party, stop the law on “foreign agents.” I don’t see any chance for a bright future for Georgia unless the government revokes this law,” Roth warned.

At the same time, the EU is not yet considering sanctions against Georgia in connection with protests around the law on foreign agents. This was announced today by the European Commission.