EU Calls on Georgia to Withdraw Foreign Agents Bill

The European Commission has urged Georgia to withdraw the bill regarding 'foreign agents', expressing concerns over the potential acceptance of this legislation. A representative of the Commission conveyed this to Politico, stating, 'We call on Georgia to withdraw the bill in accordance with the public commitments of the government and the ruling party,' requesting anonymity.

'The European Council granted Georgia candidate status for EU membership, conditional upon taking a series of steps. These include ensuring the freedom of assembly and expression, as well as conducting consultations and cooperation with civil society, which will allow full participation in legislative and political processes and enable freedom of action,' the representative noted.

Currently, the European Commission is assessing the impact of the proposed bill and will report on the 'State of Georgia' in its upcoming report, expected in the autumn. The EU ambassador to Georgia has stated that the 'foreign agents' bill is incompatible with EU values.

Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Robin Dunnigan commented on Tbilisi’s intentions to approve the 'foreign agents' bill, stating that it would divert the country from its EU path. However, Georgian authorities insist that the 'foreign agents' legislation will not hinder their movement towards EU membership.