The European Union is a steadfast partner of Georgia in the pursuit of democratic reforms. The EU strengthens civic and electoral participation, upholds the Rule of Law, protects Human Rights, fosters gender equality and social inclusion, builds safe communities, and supports freedom of expression and of the media.

Georgia’s status as an EU candidate country should be a driver for the EU’s continued democratic engagement. Unfortunately, Georgia’s EU accession process is de facto halted because of recent democratic backsliding. This is noted in the 2024 Enlargement Report (extract on Georgia).

Civic participation lies at the heart of a strong democracy. The EU actively supports citizen engagement and participation, including women’s political participation. The EU also supports independent election observation missions.

The EU is a consistent advocate of judicial independence, impartiality and accountability, and contributes to the fight against corruption and organised crime in Georgia. The EU has provided financial and technical assistance to reform the judiciary and enhance anti-corruption mechanisms.

The EU is a vocal champion of human rights in Georgia. The EU leads initiatives to combat discrimination and hate speech, promote gender equality and social inclusion, and to protect the rights of minorities and Georgia’s most vulnerable groups.

From combating domestic violence to crime prevention, the EU partners with civil society and international organisations to build safer and more resilient communities. The EU works on improving school safety, drug use prevention and rehabilitation, and strengthening accountability.

The EU is a strong supporter of media freedom and development, as well as media literacy, for an engaged and informed public. The EU provides assistance to independent media outlets, safeguarding freedom of expression, advocates for the protection of journalists, and is equipping young people and teachers with the skills to better identify disinformation.

Civil society plays a vital role in any democratic processes, as well as in EU integration of Georgia, and the EU is a steadfast supporter of civil society organisations (CSOs). The EU provides funding and technical assistance to CSOs working on a wide range of issues, including human rights, freedom of expression, civic education, and advocacy.

The European Union firmly stands by the citizens of Georgia, supporting their democratic and European aspirations.

EU Ambassador’s Statement