The Netherlands has joined the list of countries with growing concern over Georgia’s political path, warning that the Georgian government’s actions contradict the values expected of an EU candidate country.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, speaking ahead of an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, stated that concern over Tbilisi’s direction is ‘broadly shared’ among EU member states.
“This is contradictory to the approach of an EU candidate country,” Veldkamp said, emphasizing that the Georgian people continue to express a strong desire for European integration. “I care about the people in Georgia. I see many striving for the European horizon and appreciating visa freedom.”
Veldkamp concluded by reinforcing that the EU would evaluate its response: “We are going to discuss what can be done. But I see that the concern is broadly shared about the developments in Georgia.”