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The door to Europe remains open for Georgia, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer said on Monday.
Fischer added that “the massive protests of the last few days also show very clearly that many people in Georgia still want a future in the European Union.”
According to a report from Deutsche Welle, the government of Germany said it would support EU membership for Georgia, should its people want it, Schengen.News reports.
Today is the sixth day of protests that have filled Tbilisi’s streets following the announcement of the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, that EU membership talks would be suspended until 2028, with over 100 protesters arrested.
Opposite Direction Towards EU Membership
Georgia held its parliamentary elections on October 26, in which the Georgian Dream Party, which has been the ruling party in Georgia for over 12 years since 2012, was reelected with a majority of votes.
However, these elections have been considered not to be “free and fair” by EU ministers, demanding an impartial inquiry into the complaints.
Besides, the Dream Party’s objectives are considered significantly different from those of the EU as Georgia’s journey towards EU membership continues.
In particular, Georgia’s decision to adopt the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, similar to the foreign agent law of Russia, and Law on the Protection of Family Values and Minors adopted in September and scheduled to become effective on December 2, sparked controversies.
The annual EU Progress report concerning Georgia, which was published last month, highlighted that limited political attention was allocated by the government of Georgia over the last year in order to progress on the European Union agenda.
EU Commission Warned Georgia to Change Course
In addition, the European Commission warned Tbilisi that EU membership talks would not begin until the country changes course.
The report said that Georgia’s decision to adopt the law on foreign influence does not reflect the government’s commitment to the path of the EU.
But recently, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, said that he is suspending the EU membership talks with Georgia until the end of 2028.
Announcing the decision, Kobakhidze said that it is unacceptable for Georgia to consider integration into the EU as a favour that the EU should grant to this country.
Recently, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, said that the EU foreign minister will discuss the issue of Georgia, including a potential suspension of a visa-free travel agreement between Georgia and the EU, in the upcoming meeting of the Council of Foreign Affairs scheduled to be held on December 16.
Source: https://schengen.news/germany-expresses-support-for-georgias-accession-to-eu-door-remains-open/
