Tbilisi Accuses EU Of Political Interference

According to RFE/RL, Georgia’s government has reacted angrily to a critical assessment from the European Union over the country’s backsliding on democratic reforms on the way to joining the bloc, accusing Brussels of interfering in domestic affairs.

In presenting a scathing annual report on progress toward accession, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Georgia has "no viable path to the EU at this stage unless conditions change dramatically."

Specifically, the report blames the situation on Georgian government policies -- namely a crackdown on political opponents and a policy shift that appears slanted toward Moscow -- that have undermined relations with the 27-member bloc.

Georgian parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili accused the bloc of "blackmail," saying that and "pressure on Georgia do not work."

“A bureaucracy imbued with a hidden political agenda, an arrogant attitude, and disrespect for all countries that do not display blind obedience, attempting to make independent decisions and exercise the sovereign right to govern the state,” Papuashvili added.

The annual progress report for the 10 candidate countries acts as a weigh station for governments as they look to bring laws, finances, and policies in line with the bloc.

In all there are 33 policy chapters that EU hopefuls -- currently Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine -- need to fulfill before joining the bloc.

The 2025 report lauded several candidates and dangled the carrot of possibly joining the bloc as early as 2030 if reforms remain on track.

Georgia, however, was accused of "serious democratic backsliding" in the EU enlargement report.

Once seen as one of the most democratic and pro-Western countries to emerge from the Soviet Union, Georgia has been accused of growing increasingly authoritarian, while adopting what many -- including Brussels -- see as Russia-friendly policies.