Georgia has recently experienced massive protests following the government’s decision to pause the country’s EU accession process following the disputed parliamentary elections in October 2024.&nbsp; The President of Georgia Ms Zourabichvili, who has served&nbsp;since 2018, declared that the election in which the ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory was fraudulent and effectively stolen. In a resolution adopted on 28 November 2024, MEPs rejected the outcome of the parliamentary elections in Georgia and called for them to be re-run within a year.

EU - Georgia

The European Union and Georgia enjoy a very close and positive relationship.

The EU-Georgia Association Agreement entered into force in July 2016 and strives for political association and economic integration between the EU and Georgia. The EU and Georgia have also entered into a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), while Georgian citizens have benefitted from visa free travel to the Schengen area since 28 March 2017.

Georgia is an important partner for the European Union both within the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and its eastern dimension under the Eastern Partnership (EaP).

EU - Georgia (2019-2020)

Plenary preparations. Political groups will prepare for the 10 - 13 February plenary session in which MEPs will debate the EU’s continued support for Ukraine after three years of Russia’s war of aggression, providing support to EU regions that border Russia, as well as the continued repression of the democratic opposition in Russia one year after the murder of Alexei Navalny. Plenary will also vote on a resolution on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia, debate the Commission work programme for 2025, the recent proposals to boost the EU’s competitiveness, the consequences of the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and from the World Health Organisation, as well as the threats that strategic reliance on third countries in communication infrastructure pose to EU sovereignty.

Pre-session briefing

MEPs debate with EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas and take stock of the street protests rocking Georgia following the recent disputed elections.

Debate ongoing protests in Georgia

MEPs discuss the declining state of democracy in Georgia with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, ahead of a vote on a related resolution scheduled for Thursday. As the country prepares for parliamentary elections on 26 October, concerns have arisen over the ruling Georgian Dream party's increasingly authoritarian policies, particularly regarding media freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. Despite being granted EU candidate status in December 2023, the party has faced criticism for its crackdown on pro-democracy protests and for advancing a law labeling Western-funded media and NGOs as "foreign agents." If Georgian Dream secures a significant majority in the upcoming elections, there are fears that the multi-party system and political pluralism in Georgia could be further jeopardized.

Threats to political pluralism in Georgia

EP President Metsola meets the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze

Press conference on the 2023/2024 reports on Georgia.

EP Plenary session - 2023 and 2024 reports on Georgia

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150)

AFET press conference with Georgia's civil society activists leading mass pro-democracy protests across the country, on the occasion of AFET adoption of its annual Georgia report

EP Plenary session - Further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia

MEPs who lead the parliamentary work on Georgia, meet with Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia

EP Plenary session - Formal sitting with Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia

EP Plenary session - Crackdown on peaceful pro-European demonstrators in Georgia

EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session - Georgia’s worsening democratic crisis following the recent parliamentary elections and alleged electoral fraud

EP Plenary session - The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia

Delegation to the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee, the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee Constitutive meeting

EP Plenary session - Commission Statement - Attempts to reintroduce a foreign agent law in Georgia and its restrictions on civil society

METSOLA, EP President meets with Irakli KOBAKHIDZE, Georgian Prime Minister

12th meeting of the EU-Georgia PAC

Othmar KARAS welcomes Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ (EPP, LT), rapporteur, holds a press conference on the 2023/2024 reports on Georgia. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press Conference by Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ (EPP, LT), rapporteur on the 2023/2024 reports on Georgia

Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ (EPP, LT), rapporteur with Georgia's civil society activists leading mass pro-democracy protests across the country, hold a press conference on the occasion of AFET adoption of its annual Georgia report.

Press conference by Rasa JUKNEVIČIENĖ (EPP, LT), rapporteur with Georgia's civil society activists leading mass pro-democracy protests across the country, on the occasion of AFET adoption of its annual Georgia report

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, opens the formal sitting.

Formal sitting with Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia: Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia has been invited to address the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Extracts from the welcome by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and from the formal sitting in the chamber. Georgia has recently witnessed massive protests as a result of the government’s decision to pause the country’s EU accession process following the disputed parliamentary elections in October 2024, which according to Ms Zourabichvili were fraudulent and effectively stolen. In a resolution adopted on 28 November, MEPs rejected the outcome of the elections and called for them to be re-run within a year.

Formal sitting with Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia: arrival , welcome by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and extracts from the formal sitting

Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia addresses the European Parliament.

Formal sitting with Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia: Address by Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia

In a debate with European Commissioner Dubravka Šuica, MEPs take stock of the street protests rocking Georgia following the recent disputed elections.

Crackdown on peaceful pro-European demonstrators in Georgia: extracts from the debate

In a debate with Dubravka ŠUICA, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, MEPs take stock of the street protests rocking Georgia following the recent disputed elections. The current demonstrations were triggered by the Georgian government’s decision to pause the country’s EU accession process following disputed parliamentary elections in October 2024. The latest ballot saw the ruling Georgian Dream party claim victory, despite the Georgian opposition and international observers, including MEPs, warning of serious irregularities.

Crackdown on peaceful pro-European demonstrators in Georgia: Opening statement by Dubravka ŠUICA, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean

In a debate with European Commissioner for Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica, MEPs take stock of the street protests rocking Georgia following the recent disputed elections. The current demonstrations were triggered by the Georgian government’s decision to pause the country’s EU accession process following disputed parliamentary elections in October 2024. The latest ballot saw the ruling Georgian Dream party claim victory, despite the Georgian opposition and international observers, including MEPs, warning of serious irregularities.

Crackdown on peaceful pro-European demonstrators in Georgia: One round of political group speakers

Crackdown on peaceful pro-European demonstrators in Georgia: Closing statement by Dubravka ŠUICA, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean

EP President Roberta METSOLA, at the opening of the session in Strasbourg, gives a statement on the developing situation after the recent elections and demonstrations in Georgia. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, on the developing situation in Georgia

MEPs vote on the following motions for resolutions: the cases of Jimmy Lai and the 45 activists recently convicted under the national security law in Hong Kong, The increasing and systematic repression of women in Iran, The shrinking space for civil society in Cambodia, in particular the case of the labour rights organisation CENTRAL, Georgia's worsening democratic crisis following the recent parliamentary elections and alleged electoral fraud (Debate: 13/11/2024), Reinforcing EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression and the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, and on new recommendation on smoke and aerosol-free environments.

Voting session

MEPs vote on strengthening Moldova's resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections and a constitutional referendum on EU integration; and on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia.

Votes incl. Moldova's resilience against Russian interference and democratic backsliding in Georgia

Opening statements. MEPs discuss the declining state of democracy in Georgia with European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, ahead of a vote on a related resolution. As the country prepares for parliamentary elections on 26 October, concerns have arisen over the ruling Georgian Dream party's increasingly authoritarian policies, particularly regarding media freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. Despite being granted EU candidate status in December 2023, the party has faced criticism for its crackdown on pro-democracy protests and for advancing a law labeling Western-funded media and NGOs as "foreign agents." If Georgian Dream secures a significant majority in the upcoming elections, there are fears that the multi-party system and political pluralism in Georgia could be further jeopardized. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia: Opening statement by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency

MEPs discuss the declining state of democracy in Georgia with European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, ahead of a vote on a related resolution. As the country prepares for parliamentary elections on 26 October, concerns have arisen over the ruling Georgian Dream party's increasingly authoritarian policies, particularly regarding media freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. Despite being granted EU candidate status in December 2023, the party has faced criticism for its crackdown on pro-democracy protests and for advancing a law labeling Western-funded media and NGOs as "foreign agents." If Georgian Dream secures a significant majority in the upcoming elections, there are fears that the multi-party system and political pluralism in Georgia could be further jeopardized.

The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia: MEPs debate

Closing statements. MEPs discuss the declining state of democracy in Georgia with European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, ahead of a vote on a related resolution. As the country prepares for parliamentary elections on 26 October, concerns have arisen over the ruling Georgian Dream party's increasingly authoritarian policies, particularly regarding media freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. Despite being granted EU candidate status in December 2023, the party has faced criticism for its crackdown on pro-democracy protests and for advancing a law labeling Western-funded media and NGOs as "foreign agents." If Georgian Dream secures a significant majority in the upcoming elections, there are fears that the multi-party system and political pluralism in Georgia could be further jeopardized.

The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia: Closing statement by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency

Remarks on the closing of the 9th legislative term, MEPs vote on the following topics: Azerbaijan, notably the repression of civil society and the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu and Ilhamiz Guliyev; the proposed repeal of the law banning female genital mutilation in The Gambia; the new security law in Hong Kong and the cases of Andy Li and Joseph John; Freund (AFCO 22/04); Asimakopoulou (BUDG 22/04); Mureşan (A9-0174/2024); Mureşan (BUDG 22/04); Oetjen (A9-0409/2023); Kanko (A9-0411/2023); Ehler (A9-0343/2023); Russia's undemocratic presidential elections and their illegitimate extension to the occupied territories; new allegations of Russian interference in the European Parliament, in the upcoming EU elections and the impact on the Union; attempts to reintroduce a foreign agent law in Georgia and its restrictions on civil society and Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response.

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Irakli KOBAKHIDZE, Georgian Prime Minister, in the European Parliament in Brussels. This news item shows extracts from the arrival of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and welcome by President Metsola, handshake and meeting between President Metsola and Prime Minister Kobakhidze.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, meets with Irakli KOBAKHIDZE, Georgian Prime Minister: arrival and meeting

Georgia applied for EU membership last year but has not yet obtained candidate status, with the necessary political and judicial reforms still pending. Now, Salome ZOURABICHVILI, President of Georgia, visits the European Parliament and gives her address to the MEPs gathered in a formal sitting during the plenary session in Brussels. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

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