The EU will take drastic measures in case the Georgian parliament adopts the draft law on “foreign agents”. A high-ranking European official told Foreign Policy that one of the most likely options is the non-confirmation of Georgia's status as an EU candidate.
According to the newspaper, the EU intends to threaten sanctions against certain Georgian politicians, in particular, against the founder of the pro-Kremlin Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili.
EU foreign ministers will meet in late May and possibly discuss the union's potential reaction to the law's approval.
Several EU countries - Estonia, Czechia, the Netherlands and Sweden - have already publicly insisted on imposing sanctions against Georgia if the Georgian authorities pass the “Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence.”
Among the possible restrictions discussed are suspension of visa-free regime with the EU, targeted sanctions against specific individuals and freezing of monetary aid. Such measures against Georgia could be considered by EU leaders as early as next week.
At the same time, some EU countries are concerned that the decision to cancel the visa-free regime may also affect those who oppose the law on foreign agents.
“We need to be careful not to target the wrong people,” one of the European diplomats told the publication.
Among the Georgian opposition, possible EU sanctions measures are also condemned. In their opinion, the Georgian Dream party, which is the main promoter of the so-called law “on foreign agents”, is just trying to alienate Georgia from the European Union. Sanctions, in their opinion, will only complicate the promotion of pro-European policy in the country.
Recall that protests against the scandalous bill in Georgia have been going on for more than a month. Earlier, the bill was vetoed by the president of Georgia. But the ruling pro-Kremlin Georgian Dream party intends to override it. Presumably, a vote against the veto could take place as early as next week.
