Georgia – Law on foreign agents (8 March 2023)

France joins with the European Union in reiterating the deep concern raised by the law on foreign agents adopted in a first reading by the Georgian Parliament yesterday. This initiative will contribute to discrediting NGOs and media outlets and deals a harsh blow to Georgian democracy. It goes against the Georgian people’s broad support for future European Union membership.

During a meeting with her Georgian counterpart in Munich on February 18, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna called for continuing efforts to strengthen the rule of law in Georgia, which is essential to granting that country EU candidate status. France is prepared to assist Georgia in this regard.

France calls on the Georgian authorities to respect human rights and EU values, particularly the right to peaceful protest. The implementation of the European Commission’s recommendations on human rights, especially in the areas of justice and press freedom, is essential to Georgia’s EU membership prospects.