EU Ready to Cut Funding to Georgia, Says Borrell

The European Union is prepared to withdraw funding and supplies from the European Peace Facility for Georgia if the foreign agents law remains in effect in the country. This was announced by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, as reported by TASS.

Borrell explained that "this can be done immediately" since the procedure does not require a qualified majority of votes from member states, despite the fact that one EU country (Hungary) does not support the policy of exerting pressure on Georgia regarding this issue.

The head of European diplomacy stated that "Georgia will not advance on the path to EU membership if the government does not change its course." On May 14, the Georgian parliament adopted the foreign agents law in its final third reading. The law received 84 votes in favor, 30 against, and 58 abstentions. The country's president had vetoed it, calling it a "Russian law" that contradicts the Constitution and European standards. This veto was overridden in parliament by a majority vote, and parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili signed the document, making the law effective on June 3.

The discussion of the bill has sparked mass protests within the country and dissatisfaction from the European Union and the United States.