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Introduction
In March 2022, Georgia, alongside Ukraine and Moldova, submitted its application for EU membership. In June of the same year, the European Commission recommended granting candidate status to Moldova and Ukraine. However, in Georgia’s case, the European Council, following the Commission's recommendation, recognized Georgia's European perspective and required progress in 12 priority areas before candidate status could be granted.
Since 2023, an informal coalition of civil society organizations has been actively monitoring the implementation of the 12 priorities. Over the past year, the coalition published six monitoring reports, which largely corresponded with the evaluations of the European Commission.
Apart from dynamics of reforms, several actions by the Georgian government were in direct contradiction to both the priorities set by the European Commission and Georgia’s broader EU membership ambitions.
Among these contradictory actions were the introduction of the "Foreign Influence Transparency Law" in March 2023 (which was later withdrawn as a consequence of mass protests, and the initiation of impeachment proceedings against the President in September (which ultimately failed). These actions, including the resumption of direct flights with Russia in May, prompted strong reactions from the European Union.
Candidate Status
On November 8, 2023, the European Commission presented its enlargement package, recommending the opening of EU accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova. Despite Georgia having fulfilled only 3 of the 12 priorities, the European Commission recommended granting Georgia candidate status, on the understanding that the relevant steps (in 9 directions) are taken. This recommendation was subsequently endorsed by the European Council in December 2023.
On December 25, 2023, the Georgian government published its Action Plan to implement the 9 steps outlined by the European Commission. However, civil society organizations were excluded from the developing and adopting process of this document.
In February 2024, the informal coalition of civil society organizations, consisting of 12 organizations, presented their vision, "9 Steps towards EU," and continued monitoring the reforms aligned with the priorities. By April 2024, the coalition published its first report, noting minimal progress in only two of the nine steps, with no progress in the remaining seven.
Moreover, since the spring of 2024, the Georgian government has initiated and adopted a series of antidemocratic laws, including legislative amendments restricting the rights and freedoms of LGBTIQ+ individuals and increased anti-European and polarizing rhetoric, which ultimately led to a deviation from the path of European integration.
