Borrell's Preconditions for Georgia's Return to European Path

Borrell's Statement

On February 28, 2023, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, addressed the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Georgia's Path to Europe

In his speech, Borrell stressed the importance of Georgia's European aspirations, stating that the country "has a clear European perspective" and that the EU is "fully committed" to supporting Georgia's "irreversible" path towards European integration.

However, Borrell emphasized that Georgia's progress on this path is conditional upon meeting certain criteria:

Rule of Law Reforms

Borrell called on Georgia to strengthen its rule of law institutions, including the judiciary and law enforcement, to ensure that they are independent, impartial, and effective.

Political Polarization

Borrell expressed concern about the deep political polarization in Georgia and urged the country's leaders to engage in constructive dialogue to address these divisions.

Media Freedom

Borrell stressed the importance of media freedom and pluralism in Georgia, calling for an end to attacks on journalists and the creation of a safe and enabling environment for the media to operate.

Human Rights

Borrell emphasized the need for Georgia to uphold human rights standards, including the rights of minorities, women, and the LGBTQ+ community, and to ensure accountability for human rights violations.

EU Support for Georgia

Borrell reiterated the EU's continued support for Georgia's European aspirations and outlined several areas of cooperation:

Political Dialogue

The EU will continue to engage in political dialogue with Georgia on issues related to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Financial Assistance

The EU will provide financial assistance to Georgia to support its reforms and development.

Capacity Building

The EU will provide capacity-building support to Georgia's institutions to help them meet the criteria for European integration.

Conclusion

Borrell's speech outlines the conditions that Georgia must meet to advance on its European path and highlights the areas where the EU will provide support.

By meeting these conditions, Georgia can strengthen its democracy, improve its human rights record, and create a more favorable environment for economic growth and prosperity.