EU Halts Georgia's Accession Amid Controversial Law

The EU has frozen Georgia's accession process just months after granting the country candidate status, according to a report by Politico. The information comes from Pawel Herczynski, the EU ambassador in Tbilisi.

This decision was made by EU leaders in June and follows the EU's condemnation of a Georgian law (dubbed "Russian law") that labels Western-funded NGOs and media as foreign agents. Critics argue this law mirrors Russia's, which has been used by Vladimir Putin's regime to suppress opposition.

Additionally, the EU's decision results in the suspension of financial aid under the European Peace Support Mechanism, as noted by Ambassador Herczynski. Consequently, Georgia will miss out on a 30 million euro payment.

Key sectors in Georgia, including agriculture and winemaking, are significantly reliant on funding from European and American agencies.

Georgia's aspirations to join the European Union have been a cornerstone of its foreign policy since the Rose Revolution in 2003, which brought a pro-Western government to power. The country's leadership has pursued various reforms to align with EU standards, hoping to secure economic benefits, enhance political stability, and ensure security against regional threats, notably from Russia.

In 2014, Georgia signed an Association Agreement with the EU, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), marking a significant step towards integration. This agreement aimed to promote closer economic ties and regulatory alignment with the EU. In 2020, Georgia also submitted an official application for EU membership, seeking candidate status as part of its strategic goal to join the EU.

However, the road to EU membership has been fraught with challenges. Political polarization...