EU warns Georgia against oppressing opposition
European External Action Service spokesman Peter Stano said the EU is concerned about statements by the Georgian Prime Minister and other officials from the ruling Georgian Dream party regarding the ban on opposition parties.
"The current course of action jeopardizes Georgia's path to the European Union, which de facto puts the accession process on hold. The European Commission is closely monitoring the rhetoric and developments in Georgia and is ready to respond accordingly. However, the door to membership remains open if Tbilisi decides to adapt to the values and norms of the European Union and reverse the negative trends of recent months," Stano said.
German Ambassador to Georgia Peter Fischer noted that joining the European Union is a legal process.
"This is not just about feelings or history. If a country adopts laws that contradict the fundamental principles of the European Union, it will not be able to join the European Union," Fischer stressed.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze previously stated that the ban on opposition parties would not be an obstacle to Georgia's accession to the EU.
