The European Union has expressed significant concern over Georgia’s recent enactment of a “foreign agent” law, which mandates that any civil society organization receiving at least 20% of its funding from abroad must register as an organization acting “in the interest of a foreign power.” This law, passed earlier this year on May 21 amidst substantial public protests, has drawn parallels to similar legislation in Russia and is seen as a substantial hindrance to Georgia’s aspirations for EU membership.
The European Council has stated that the new law “represents backsliding” on Georgia’s path to EU membership. This move has resulted in the EU declaring “a halt of the accession process” to the EU, effectively stalling Georgia’s progression towards integration with the European bloc.
Protests erupted across the country following the passage of the law, with thousands of citizens rallying against what they see as a repressive measure limiting the activities of NGOs and other civil society groups. Amid these civil protests, the EU has called for an end to “the increasing acts of intimidation, threats and physical assaults” and reiterated its “steadfast solidarity” with the Georgian people.
Critics argue that the new legislation is not only a step back for civil liberties but also risks being used as a tool for broader political repression. Davit Zedelashvili, a constitutional lawyer at the University of Tbilisi, suggested that the law could be employed to crack down on election monitoring organizations, thereby expanding the scope for electoral fraud and mass repression to quell public dissent.
Moreover, the UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, has similarly expressed concern, warning that the law undermines freedoms of expression and association by imposing stringent regulations that stigmatize organizations as foreign agents.
Before the law’s passage, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili had announced Georgia’s intent to apply for full EU membership by 2024 in a Europe Day statement. However, this intention now appears jeopardized by the introduction of the controversial legislation. The European Parliament had previously supported a motion granting a European perspective to Georgia, marking progress in the application process. With the new law in place, Georgia’s prospects for EU membership remain uncertain.