“Enlargement report is devastating for Georgia’s European aspirations – Herczynski”

According to the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński, the enlargement report published today, 4 November, is devastating for Georgia’s European aspirations.

“For me, as the EU Ambassador to Georgia, presenting this year’s report is not easy. Unfortunately, the conclusions are devastating for Georgia’s European aspirations. The truth is that Georgia is now further away from EU membership than it was in 2023, when it was granted candidate status. The level of backsliding observed over the past year is absolutely unprecedented and here I am quoting Kaja Kallas and Marta Kos, who spoke before me,” Herczyński said.

According to the Ambassador, while the Georgian government chose to distance itself from the EU, other countries advanced with reforms and moved forward in the accession process.

“Unlike Georgia, they are now benefitting from gradual integration with the EU. Sadly, due to the trajectory chosen by the authorities, the people and businesses of Georgia are missing out on funding crucial for the country’s modernization,” said Herczyński.

Today, 4 November, the European Commission published the 2025 Enlargement Report, according to which Georgia has made no progress on its EU membership path, and its candidate status has remained only formal. The Commission once again reaffirms its solidarity with the people of Georgia.

“The actions of the authorities do not meet the expectations the EU has for a candidate country. Significant backsliding has been observed in key areas repressive laws have been adopted that restrict fundamental rights and freedoms; there has been political instrumentalization of the judiciary; persecution of opposition leaders, arbitrary detention of protesters and journalists, and shrinking of civic space. The erosion of checks and balances and of democratic decision-making, along with the lack of effective parliamentary oversight, has led to the strengthening of the executive, including state capture.

In November 2024, the government’s decision not to proceed with opening accession negotiations with the EU clearly confirmed their departure from the policies of previous governments, from the European aspirations of the overwhelming majority of the population, and from the constitutional obligation to ensure the country’s full integration into the EU,” the report states.

The report also says that the Georgian government has systematically spread anti-EU disinformation and has shown no political will to implement the necessary reforms (the so-called “nine steps”) outlined in the European Commission’s 8 November 2023 recommendations.

“The behavior of the Georgian authorities has damaged EU–Georgia relations and pushed the country even further away from the enlargement process. As a result, Georgia’s accession process is effectively halted. Until the authorities change course, the Commission, in agreement with the Council, is reducing high-level political contacts, suspending bilateral assistance that directly benefits the authorities, and increasing support for civil society and independent media.

In January 2025, based on the Commission’s proposal, the Council decided to partially suspend the EU–Georgia visa facilitation agreement and suspend visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic and service/official passports.

Georgia must immediately halt democratic backsliding and take comprehensive and practical steps to address existing problems and implement key reforms.

Considering the conclusions of the December 2024 European Council stating that the government’s actions have effectively frozen the pre-accession process and given that backsliding has continued since then across key areas, the Commission considers that Georgia is a candidate country in name only. The Georgian authorities must demonstrate strong political will to change course and return to the path toward EU membership,” the report concludes.