What changed

B100084/2024

B100074/2024

European Parliament resolution on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia,

– having regard to its resolution of 25 April 2024 on attempts to reintroduce a foreign agent law in Georgia and its restrictions on civil society,

– having regard to the statement by the spokespersonVice-President forof the EuropeanCommission External/ ActionHigh ServiceRepresentative of 4the SeptemberUnion 2024for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on 15 May 2024 concerning the legislativeadoption packageof the law on ‘family‘transparency valuesof andforeign protectioninfluence’ ofin minors’,Georgia,

– having regard to the statement by the High Representative with the European Commission of 15 May 2024 on the adoption of the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ law,

– having regard to Georgia’s sovereignty as recognised in international law,

– having regard to the EuropeanCharter Councilof conclusionsthe United Nations and to the principles of 27non-interference Junein 2024,domestic affairs,

– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

– having regard to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,

– having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the exercise of freedom of opinion, expression, association and peaceful assembly are fundamental rights enshrined in the Georgian Constitution;

A. whereas Georgia is a sovereign state under international law, with full authority to determine its political system, conduct elections and manage its internal affairs without interference from foreign actors or international organisations;

B. whereas Georgia, as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as a member of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, has committed itself to the principles of democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights;

B. whereas Georgia’s political system and elections are aligned with democratic norms similar to those of EU Member States, thus negating any need for external interference;

C. whereas the European Union expects Georgia, a candidate country for EU accession, to abide fully by the international commitments it has made and, in particular, to fulfil the recommendations set out in the Commission’s recommendation of 8 November 2023, on the basis of which the European Council decided to grant candidate status to Georgia;

C. whereas the claims of ‘democratic backsliding’ appear to serve as a pretext to pressure Georgia, without legitimate basis for such accusations;

D. whereas on 14 May 2024 the Georgian Parliament adopted the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ law despite mass protests of Georgian citizens and repeated calls from Georgia’s European partners to withdraw the draft law which, in spirit and content, contradicts EU norms and values;

D. whereas Georgia’s law on foreign agents aims to ensure transparency of foreign influence, without undermining civil society or the independence of the media, and is aligned with similar, even stricter, laws present in several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and France;

E. whereas the European Council, in its conclusions of 27 June 2024, called on Georgia’s authorities to ‘clarify their intentions by reversing the current course of action which jeopardises Georgia’s EU path, de facto leading to a halt of the accession process’;

E. whereas the principle of political pluralism protects the right of sovereign nations such as Georgia to express opinions that may differ from those of the EU;

F. whereas on 17 September 2024, the Georgian Parliament adopted another controversial legislative package, namely on ‘family values and protection of minors’;

F. whereas the Orthodox Christian Church and traditional family values are central to Georgian society and recent EU actions and statements have amounted to unacceptable interference in these cultural matters;

1. Condemns the adoption of laws such as those on ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and ‘family values and protection of minors’, which have been met with massive protests by the Georgian public, civil society organisations, independent media, prominent public figures and the country’s European and international partners alike, and which are abused by the government to impose restrictions on critical voices in civil society and the non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector or to discriminate against vulnerable persons;

1. Reaffirms its respect for the sovereignty of Georgia and calls for the EU to refrain from any involvement in Georgia’s internal matters;

2. Expresses its concern about the climate of hatred and antagonism fuelled by statements by Georgian Government representatives and political leaders, as well as by the government’s attacks against political pluralism, such as its threats to ban opposition parties;

2. Rejects the statement by the High Representative regarding ‘democratic backsliding’ in Georgia, as it lacks credible evidence and serves as a pretext for external intervention;

3. Underlines that the aforementioned laws are incompatible with EU values and democratic principles, run against Georgia’s ambitions for EU membership and endanger the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration;

3. Emphasises its respect for Georgia’s law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’, noting that it complies with democratic norms and is similar to laws applied in other countries, including some within the EU;

4. Calls on the Georgian Parliament to withdraw these laws and to refrain from submitting any further legislative proposals that contradict the principles of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms and which would therefore directly contradict the criteria for EU membership;

4. Calls for the EU and its institutions to respect the rights of sovereign nations to determine their foreign policy, internal governance and societal values without external coercion or intervention;

5. Highlights that the controversial laws betray the aspirations of the large majority of the Georgian people to live in a democratic society, continue democratic and rule of law reforms, pursue close cooperation with Euro-Atlantic partners and engage on a path towards EU membership;

5. Deplores any undue pressure on Georgia and urges the EU to respect the diversity of political opinions in Georgia;

6. Underlines that the public watchdog role exercised by civil society and independent media is essential to a democratic society and crucial in advancing EU accession-related reforms and therefore calls on the Georgian authorities to do their utmost to guarantee an enabling environment in which civil society and independent media can thrive; emphasises that the legitimate aim of ensuring the transparency of NGOs receiving foreign funding cannot in any way justify measures which restrict their activities, especially not in the field of democracy, the rule of law and human rights;

6. Expresses concern over interference in cultural and societal matters in Georgia, particularly those related to the Orthodox Christian Church and traditional family values, and demands that the EU respect the societal norms of Georgian citizens;

7. Condemns the murder of a prominent human rights activist belonging to the transgender community the day after the adoption of the law on ‘family values and protection of minors’, as well as the many recent cases of intimidation and attacks against critical voices in civil society;

7. Demands a cessation of unwarranted accusations of ‘democratic backsliding’ in Georgia unless substantiated by concrete and transparent evidence;

8. Recalls that the European Council granted Georgia candidate status at its summit of 14-15 December 2023 on the understanding that the relevant steps set out in the Commission recommendation of 8 November 2023 would be taken; stresses that this recommendation called on Georgia to ensure, among other things, that civil society was able to operate freely and to fight disinformation against the EU and its values; urges the Georgian Government, therefore, to reverse its current political course and return to a path that is aligned with the will of the Georgian people for continued democratic reforms that open up the perspective of future EU membership;

8. Calls for a constructive and respectful dialogue between the EU and Georgia based on mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in domestic affairs;

9. ReiteratesInstructs its callPresident onto forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and the President ofCouncil, the Commission to remindCommission, the GeorgianPresident, Government of theand commitmentsParliament itof madeGeorgia, and the valuesgovernments and principles it subscribed to when itparliaments appliedof forthe EUMember membership;States.

10. Urges the Georgian Government to uphold its commitment to respect, strengthen and promote democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and genuinely engage in the full implementation of the steps required to fulfil the conditions for candidate status and EU membership, in a spirit of engagement and cooperation with Georgia’s civil society and political opposition;

11. Reiterates its unwavering support for the Georgian people’s legitimate European aspirations and to their wish to see their country join the European family, and expresses its hope that Georgia will return to its path of democratic reform;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the President, Government and Parliament of Georgia.