EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski has delivered a clear message about Georgia’s EU integration path, expressing deep concern over the country’s democratic issues and growing political violence.
“We are ready. We are open. We have decided to let Georgia be one of us. But for this, we need to see commitment, dedication, and serious reforms,” said Herczynski. “Unfortunately, this is not the case.”
Herczynski pointed out that the European Union is based on “democracy, the rule of law, and human rights,” and joining the EU requires respecting those principles. “Georgia formally applied for EU membership in 2022. That application came from the Georgian Dream government. But since candidate status was granted, Georgia’s actions and legislation have gone in the opposite direction.”
He further criticized the Georgian authorities for ignoring repeated warnings from the EU: “We have asked Georgia, please don’t do it. Please get closer to us and don’t go further away from us. Unfortunately, our calls have been completely ignored.” Herczynski described recent events in Georgia as “intimidation, violence, brutality, and complete impunity for those who have beaten people on the streets.”
As a result, the EU is working to impose sanctions against those responsible. However, he explained, “in order for us to introduce sanctions at the European Union level, we need all 27 member states to agree. For the moment, unfortunately, we do not have unanimity.”
Some member states, he said, have already imposed bilateral sanctions, targeting individuals linked to the violence. Nevertheless, Herczynski said the EU is “trying to introduce sanctions” collectively and expressed hope that “we will reach a moment in which there will be unanimity among the 27 member states.”
