The EU plans to restore the status of visas with agriculture if Tbilisi does not limit the fact that 27 members and its institutes were called “regression of democratic authorities”, Brussels announced on Tuesday.
The European commission must send a letter to the executive branch of Tbilisa, which reports that by August 31 it will suspend the liberalization of visa liberalization in 2017.
“The attack on the Republic of Georgian Dream (the ruling party) is becoming more and more serious“According to the head of the EU foreign policy at the last press conference after the EU foreign Council in Brussels.
“What can we do? This includes the suspension of the status of exemption from the obligation to view, the agreement on communication and sanctions“He explained.
Nevertheless, the possible suspension of the status of exemption from a visa obligation causes fears between member states.
Controversial measures
Some ministers who participated in the Council for Foreign Affairs in Brussels especially show that a restrictive measure can harm the Georgian people without influencing the country’s leadership and can turn a boomerang against the interests of the EU.
In Georgia, 80% of the public are professionals, while, according to the EU, the current government of the country of the South Caucasus serves the interests of Moscow.
“We believe that restrictions should be imposed on those who are responsible for repressions, and not for residents of agriculture“The Polish Foreign Minister Radoslav Sikorski commented at the end of the council.
For Kalas, the EU must comply with its political principles and needs.
“Until now, we have this position that we do not want to harm the Georgian people. And, having deleted the release regime from the visa duty, this really affects them, but at the same time it is also the issue of EU trust. “Kallas said.
According to the Georgian dream, the ruling party, controlled by a millionaire by businessman Bitzina Ivanisville, the EU seeks to influence and intimidate Georgian public opinion, given the municipal elections planned for October next year.
Kakha Kalanze, the mayor of Tbilis and the Secretary General of the Georgian Dream, also commented on the threats of the possible suspension of exemption from agriculture from the obligation to vote.
“All this is part of the blackmail that we see in recent years, especially since the war broke out (Russia)“Kalanze said.”Georgia did not succumb to the requirements (from the EU and NATO), did not join the sanctions, did not allow the “second front” to open in the country“
EU is losing Georgia?
The European parliament approved last week in Strasbourg a strictly formulated decision against what EU lawmakers call ” The self -proclaimed principles established by the Georgian Party of Dreams after distorted parliamentary elections of October 26, 2024. “
According to the Georgian dream, the opposition works against national interests with the EU.
“They (opposition) were defeated in the October parliamentary elections. Their actions are outside of any dignity, and now we hear these statements. However, when it comes to the country and its interests, the compromise is inconceivable“, Calandeza concluded.
The elections last fall caused a wave of protests, which lasted more than six months, mainly against the Government of Georgia, in the midst of accusations of election fraud.
The EU is very concerned about a wave of arrests conducted by the Georgian authorities against journalists and some opposition members. The authorities arrested at least seven opposition officials in recent months.
Tobias Kremer, a German member of the socialist and democratic group (S&D), was one of the main authors of the resolution of the European Parliament about Georgia.
Kramer told Euronews that the democratic regression in agriculture is deliberately under the support of Russia and its allies in the agricultural, legislative, legislative and judicial systems. “We must also look at those who are illegally trying to distract the work of justice in the system.” He said.
There is no sanctions agreement
Recent arrests and beliefs of political activists and journalists caused anxiety in the EU in the system of justice of Georgia. For this reason, target fines were proposed against specific judges and government officials, since there are no consent between member states.
On June 24, a politician Georgi Vaskhngge from the Central Party “Agamamnenebeli Strategy” was sentenced to eight months in prison for refusing to submit an official investigation, which critics of the Georgian dream characterize political revenge.
On the previous day, three other opposition officials were imposed on similar fines after they refused to cooperate with the same parliamentary investigation investigating the alleged crimes of former president Michael Saakashvili, who is still in prison.
Last month, Kalandz rejected the statement that any of the arrests had political incentives, saying that politicians were not excluded by law.
“I think that we all know very well why these people are holding. They violated the law, they did not appear in the committee. The property of a politician or any other person cannot be an incentive to violate the law“He said.
Georgia filed an application for the EU in March 2022 along with Ukraine and Moldova, and received the candidate in December 2023.
A few months later, growing problems and disagreements between Brussels and the Government of Georgia prompted both sides to freeze the expansion process.
As a result, the financial support of the European Fund of the World, 30 million euros, was suspended in 2024, and this year is not provided with support.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakkinde told Euronews in May that his country plays a “vital role for Europe”.
“Everyone should recognize the strategic importance of agriculture for Europe, especially for the Eurozone. Our role in the region is important, and therefore the need for a dialogue with Georgian leaders is increasingly recognized“He added.
Concerned decades
Russian troops attacked Georgia in August 2008, just three months after the critical NATO summit in Bucharest, which welcomed the ambitions of Tbilisa and Kyiv to conduct negotiations on the introduction. The Russian army occupied South Ossetia and Abkhazia for several weeks. These two areas are still under Moscow.
After the war in 2008, the Georgian government had to find a balance between the expectations of almost 80% of its population for the EU and understanding the strategic priorities of its northern neighbor, Russia, especially after the start of its complete war against Ukraine.
In fact, despite the candidate for the EU, Tbilisi was not agreed with the EU sanctions against Russia. In 2024, the Georgian parliament adopted a law on foreign agents, a legislative measure that significantly limited the activities of NGOs financed from the line in the country.
Callas also threatened to suspend an agreement on the combination of the EU George, which entered into force in 2016.
The terms of communication are mandatory agreements between the EU and the third countries that establish expanded commercial, economic and political cooperation in exchange for political and legislative reforms, compatible with the principles of trade unions.
The advantages for contrand countries can also include a commercially preferred state point, since the agreement on communication often provides for a deep and integrated free trade agreement.
Similarly, the EU expressed concern when Georgia ratified the agreement on free trade with China in 2018.