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EU Enlargement Package 2026: Georgia

Georgia was granted EU candidate country status in December 2023, marking an important milestone in Georgia’s European integration journey. Unfortunately, following concerns over democratic backsliding and failure to make progress on the nine steps related to the EU fundamental values which were linked to the granting of the candidate status, the European Council concluded in 2024 that Georgia’s EU accession process was de facto halted.

The European Union continues to support the European aspirations of the Georgian people, while calling for democratic reforms and respect for EU fundamental values.

Explore Georgia’s European path, the latest EU Enlargement Package and the steps required to advance towards EU membership.

Press Conference on Georgia Report 2026

EU Enlargement Report 2026

The European Commission’s 2026 Enlargement Report highlights that Georgia‘s EU accession process remains de facto halted, and the Commission’s 2025 assessment of Georgia as a candidate country in name only remains valid. Georgia continues to fall short of the nine steps set out in the Commission’s recommendation for candidate status, as the ruling party has continued to undermine democratic principles, the rule of law, fundamental rights and civic space, while enabling further state capture. Unless Georgian authorities change course and recommit to the fundamental principles underpinning EU accession, Georgia will continue to miss out on the benefits of candidate status and the pre-accession process. The EU’s longstanding support for Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity remains unwavering, as does its support for the European aspirations of the Georgian people.

In its 2026 communication on Enlargement the European Commission notes that the continued backsliding on the fundamentals observed during the reporting period confirms that Georgia remains an EU candidate in name only and continues to forego the benefits that candidate status and the pre-accession process bring.

The document notes: “The ruling party in Georgia has continued to undermine the country’s EU path by pursuing its attack on democratic principles, the rule of law and fundamental rights, as well as by enabling further state capture. As a result of increasingly repressive legislation, civic space has been further and severely curtailed. Georgia continues to fall short of the nine steps set out in the Commission’s recommendation for candidate status. Georgian authorities have not addressed the concerns about the state of democracy and fundamental rights in the country that led the EU to suspend visa-free travel for Georgian diplomatic, service and official passport holders.

Georgia benefitted from an annual bilateral allocation of €85 million between 2021 and 2024. Due to the overall situation a decision was taken to not further spend funds on the same level. However, annual allocations are not all spent in the same year, hence, as a consequence of democratic backsliding, Georgia will lose €121 million from the 2022, 2023 and 2024 allocations. The financial assistance lost were initially intended to directly benefit the authorities of Georgia, in form of direct budget support to the state budget or technical assistance to the government or state agencies. The funds have been redirected.

The European Union continues to support the European aspirations of the Georgian people, while calling for democratic reforms and respect for EU fundamental values.

Explore Georgia’s European path, the latest EU Enlargement Package and the steps required to advance towards EU membership.

Georgia’s EU Candidate Status: Where Does the Country Stand?

Georgia applied for membership of the European Union in March 2022 and was granted candidate country status by the European Council on 14 December 2023. This decision was granted by the EU member states on the understanding that nine reform steps identified by the European Commission will be implemented. The exact recommendation and text outlining the nine steps can be found here 2023 Communication on Enlargement Policy

However, in June 2024, the European Council concluded that actions taken by the Georgian authorities had led to a de facto halt of the country’s EU accession process. The Council reiterated this position in October 2024.

In December 2024, the European Council also expressed regret over the Georgian government’s decision to suspend its EU accession process until 2028.

The European Union and Georgia: A Longstanding Partnership

The European Union and Georgia have developed a close partnership over several decades, based on political dialogue, economic cooperation and shared commitments under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement.

The Association Agreement, which includes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), provides the foundation for closer political association and economic integration between Georgia and the EU. It supports cooperation and reforms in areas such as trade, economic development, and governance. The EU is Georgia’s main trading partner: in 2025, the EU accounted for 21.6% of Georgia’s total trade.

Since March 2017, Georgian citizens holding biometric passports have also benefited from visa-free short-term travel to the Schengen area, subject to the applicable conditions. The European Union suspended visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service, and official passports on March 6, 2026. The visa suspension mechanism is activated in response to Georgia’s deliberate and persisting violation of the commitments taken under its visa-free regime in key areas of democracy and fundamental rights.

The EU’s financial assistance remains an important framework for supporting citizens, promoting EU values and maintaining people-to-people connections.

Despite the challenges affecting Georgia’s EU accession process, the European Union continues to support initiatives that directly benefit Georgian citizens, including programmes focused on civil society, independent media and opportunities for young people. The assistance also supports farmers, people and institutions in the sectors of education, culture, research, and in the private sector. The assistance also helps to protect human rights and freedoms, as well as providing opportunities for some of Georgia’s most vulnerable citizens.

Milestones

From the signing of the Association Agreement to receiving EU candidate status, these milestones reflect the evolution of Georgia’s European integration process.

Explore the key developments that have shaped Georgia’s relationship with the European Union

June 2014

Association Agreement signed

Georgia and the European Union sign the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, establishing a framework for closer political and economic cooperation.

July 2016

Association Agreement enters into force

The EU-Georgia Association Agreement fully enters into force, strengthening cooperation across a wide range of policy areas.

March 2017

Visa-free travel begins

Georgian citizens with biometric passports gain visa-free access for short stays in the Schengen area, under the applicable conditions.

March 2022

Georgia applies for EU membership

Georgia formally submits its application to join the European Union.

June 2022

European perspective granted

The European Council recognises Georgia’s European perspective and sets out priorities for further reforms.

November 2023

Commission recommends candidate status

The European Commission recommends granting Georgia EU candidate status, subject to the implementation of nine reform steps.

December 2023

EU candidate status granted

The European Council grants Georgia candidate country status, on the understanding that the necessary reform steps are implemented.

June 2024 & October 2024

EU accession process de facto halted

European Council finds Georgian government’s course of action jeopardises Georgia’s EU path and that the accession process has de facto halted.

December 2024

Prime Minister states that “we have decided not to place the opening of EU accession negotiations on the agenda” until the end of 2028, and announced that the government would refuse all EU budget support grants during this period. The European Council regrets the Georgian government’s decision to suspend the EU accession process until 2028.

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