Georgian government's actions incompatible with further EU integration - Latvian MP

RIGA - The current actions of the Georgian government are incompatible with the country's further integration into the European Union (EU) and go against the wishes of the Georgian people, but the EU's doors remain open to Georgia, provided that the policy changes, said Edmunds Cepuritis (Progressives), Chairman of the Saeima European Affairs Committee.

According to the Saeima press service, the committee approved national positions on EU enlargement and Georgia at its meeting on Friday.

The committee members welcomed the progress made by Albania and Montenegro in the EU accession negotiations and expressed hope that the situation in Georgia would also change. They also stressed the need to continue supporting Georgian civil society, independent media and youth.

Parliamentarians highlighted the progress made by Moldova towards closer ties with the EU and expressed support for the establishment of the Moldova Reform and Growth Mechanism. Similarly, Ukraine, despite being torn by war, is consistently making significant reforms and demonstrating significant progress in a number of areas that are key to Euro-integration, MPs said. Latvia supports the opening of EU accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine as soon as possible.

At the end of October, the European Commission adopted this year's enlargement package, which provides a detailed assessment of the situation and progress towards EU accession of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova, Ukraine and Turkey, as well as Georgia. Although Georgia was granted candidate status by the European Council in December 2023, its EU accession process is de facto stalled due to the actions of its government.

Foreign ministry spokespersons said that Georgia was in the fifteenth day of widespread unrest triggered by the announcement by its Prime Minister to suspend the Euro-integration course until the end of 2028. The Georgian ruling authorities are pursuing policies contrary to their own constitution and the people's expectations for their future, the ministry said.

The actions of law enforcement authorities against protesters, the excessive use of force and violence to suppress freedom of expression and assembly are unacceptable, the participants said. The EU Member States' national position calls for broader sanctions against those responsible. They also called for the reinstatement of Schengen visas for holders of diplomatic and service passports.