Georgia applied for EU membership in March 2022 and was granted status of the candidate country in December 2023, on the understanding that Georgia implements nine steps set out in the European Commission recommendation of November 2023.
Half a year later, on 27 June 2024 the European Council announced that the EU accession process for Georgia was “de facto halted”, as a consequence of democratic backsliding.
On 17 October 2024, the European Council recalled that the EU accession process for Georgia was stopped and called on Georgia to adopt democratic, comprehensive and sustainable reforms, in line with the core principles of European integration.
On 19 December, the European Council expressed regret over the Georgian government’s decision to suspend the country’s EU accession process until 2028.
In the 2024 enlargement report on Georgia (extract on Georgia), released on 30 October, the European Commission assessed that the granting of candidate status to Georgia had not been followed by sufficient political commitment of the authorities to implement the necessary reforms for the country’s progress on the EU path. It recommends that Georgia revert to the implementation of the nine steps as a matter of priority (extract on Georgia). Unless Georgia reverts the current course of action, which jeopardises its EU path, and demonstrates tangible efforts to address outstanding concerns and key reforms, the Commission will not be in a position to consider recommending opening negotiations with Georgia.
In the 2025 Enlargement Report, the European Commission noted that since the European Council’s 2024 conclusions that Georgia’s EU accession process was de facto halted, the situation has sharply deteriorated, with serious democratic backsliding marked by a rapid erosion of the rule of law and severe restrictions on fundamental rights. This includes legislation severely limiting civic space, undermining freedom of expression and assembly, and violating the principle of non-discrimination. The report stresses that Georgian authorities need to urgently reverse their democratic backsliding and undertake comprehensive and tangible efforts to address outstanding concerns and key reforms, supported by cross-party cooperation and civic engagement, in line with EU values. Following the December 2024 European Council conclusions and in light of Georgia’s continued backsliding, the Commission considers Georgia a candidate country in name only. The Georgian authorities must demonstrate resolute commitment to reverse course and return to the EU accession path.
