The EU is ready to put Georgia's candidate status at stake in response to the law on ‘foreign agents’. UNN writes about this with reference to Foreign Policy.
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The European Union opposes the adoption of the law "on foreign agents"in Georgia, which has been a candidate country for EU membership since last year. It is claimed that the EU cannot pass the bill in its current form, as it contradicts the basic values and laws of the bloc, which Georgia must adhere to in order to become a member.
The adoption of this law negatively affects Georgia's progress towards the EU. The choice of further path is in the hands of Georgia. We call on the Georgian authorities to withdraw the law, reaffirm their commitment to the EU path and promote the necessary reforms outlined in 9 steps
Barrel added that the EU supports the Georgian people and their choice in favor of democracy and Georgia's European future.
A senior EU official, who asked to remain anonymous, told Foreign Policy that the most likely scenario is that in October, if the bill is not withdrawn, the European Commission will inform the Georgian government that it will not confirm the status of an EU candidate when it releases its annual report on countries participating in the accession process.
EU foreign ministers will meet in late May and are likely to discuss the bloc's potential response to the bill's approval.
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The "foreign agents" bill, which resembles a Russian law introduced by Russia in 2012 to combat Kremlin critics, will require all organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from other countries to register with the Georgian Ministry of justice as agents of foreign influence.
The Georgian government defended the bill, arguing that it is necessary to increase transparency, protect against "pseudo-liberal values" promoted by foreigners, and protect the country's sovereignty. Georgian president Salome Zurabishvili announced on May 19 that she had vetoed it. But its decision can be overturned by a second vote in Parliament..