EU Commission Declines to Initiate EU Accession Talks With Georgia
EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi Statement
"Georgia has not yet sufficiently fulfilled the 12 priorities of the European Commission's 2022 opinion," said Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi. "These priorities are essential for Georgia to progress on its path towards EU membership."
The European Commission has decided not to recommend that the Council of the European Union open accession negotiations with Georgia. This decision was made after a thorough assessment of Georgia's progress in meeting the 12 priorities set out by the Commission in its 2022 opinion on Georgia's EU membership application.
In its assessment, the Commission found that Georgia has made some progress in implementing the 12 priorities, particularly in the areas of justice reform, the fight against organized crime and corruption, and public administration reform. However, the Commission also found that Georgia has not yet sufficiently fulfilled the priorities related to the independence of the judiciary, media freedom, and the protection of human rights.
The Commission's decision is a setback for Georgia's EU aspirations, but it is not a final rejection. The Commission has made it clear that Georgia can still join the EU if it continues to make progress in meeting the 12 priorities. The Commission will continue to monitor Georgia's progress and will provide further guidance and support as needed.
Expert Analysis
Experts say the EU Commission's decision is a disappointment for Georgia, but it is not a surprise. Georgia has been struggling to meet the EU's accession criteria for many years, and the country has been facing significant political and economic challenges in recent months.
The experts say that Georgia needs to focus on implementing the 12 priorities set out by the Commission if it wants to join the EU. The country needs to make progress in areas such as judicial reform, the fight against corruption, and media freedom.
Background
Georgia applied for EU membership in 2004, and the country was granted EU candidate status in 2014. In 2022, the European Commission issued its opinion on Georgia's EU membership application, setting out 12 priorities that Georgia needed to meet in order to progress towards EU membership.
The EU has been providing financial and technical assistance to Georgia to help the country implement the 12 priorities. The EU has also been providing political support to Georgia, and the EU has been a strong advocate for Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
