Tbilisi has been disconnected from E.U. financial assistance too.

The leaders of the European Union member countries announced after their 17 October 2024 summit that Georgia’s E.U. membership process has been formally grounded and the financial assistance for Tbilisi has been cut.

During the summit, the European Council adopted conclusions on Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, the Middle East, as well as the rules-based international order, competitiveness, migration, external relations and others.

While re-affirming that Ukraine and Moldova will continue the negotiation on E.U. entry, the Council criticized Georgia for the current course of action by the Tbilisi government, “which runs counter to the values and principles upon which the European Union is founded.”

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The joint statement says, “The European Council recalls that such a course of action jeopardizes Georgia’s European path, and de facto halts the accession process.

It calls on Georgia to adopt democratic, comprehensive and sustainable reforms, in line with the core principles of European integration.”

At the same time, it reiterated the Union’s readiness to support the Georgian people on their European path.

The European Council said it expected the Georgian parliamentary elections on 26 October to be free and fair, in line with international standards and with unhindered access for international and domestic election observers, underlining the need to protect a free, independent and pluralistic media.

The decision to freeze Georgia’s membership process will also see the suspension of financial assistance from the European Peace Facility, the E.U.’s off-budget resilience fund, with €30 million in payments paused. Sectors like agriculture, winemaking and other key industries are heavily dependent on E.U. and U.S. support.

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The pro-Russia government controlled by the Georgian Dream party of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili has been under Western fire for years for a number of undemocratic measures including the adoption of a “foreign agents” law – a Russian copy-paste document, anti-Western rhetoric, dissent crushing and other Moscow-inspired actions.

E.U. officials hinted that the bloc might also consider withdrawing the visa free regime for Georgian travelers.
The United States joined the chorus by cancelling last summer the planned joint military drills with the Georgian army and putting on hold the visa issue applications.

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