AFP – European Union (EU) foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell told Georgia yesterday that its push to join the bloc could be ended, as Brussels weighs options to punish the authorities over a “foreign influence” law.
“The door for Georgia to become a member of the EU is open,” Borrell said at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
“But if the government continues on the same track, continues doing what they are doing, this door will be closed, and the Georgian people will pay the consequences, will suffer.”
The ruling party in the South Caucasus country – which formally became a candidate to join the EU last year – adopted a controversial “foreign influence” law this month.
The move was condemned by Georgia’s Western supporters, with the United States banning several officials from the South Caucasus nation from visiting.
The 27-nation EU is now pondering its response to the shifts from the governing Georgian Dream party, but is wary of pushing the ex-Soviet state closer towards Moscow. Despite the moves from the government, the population in the country remains overwhelmingly in favour of moving closer towards the EU.
