EU to discuss new measures against Georgia in January

EU foreign ministers will hold a “deep dive” in January on new measures against Georgia, aimed at stopping Tbilisi from further democratic backsliding, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said, Euronews writes.

The remarks come as the European Commission published its annual progress reports on candidate countries. For Georgia, they point to further democratic backsliding, with new restrictions on civic space and a deterioration of fundamental rights.

“The Georgian government right now is on a collision course with the European Union regarding the democratic backsliding. That’s very, very clear. The steps that have been taken are not going in the right direction now,” Kallas said at the press conference presenting the reports.

Asked by Euronews whether she would propose new sanctions on the Georgian government, Kallas said it was too early to tell, as the January discussion is meant to reconcile different views.