FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Georgia: Q&A
Hello, Luca Mattia Formula TV Georgia.
So the first response from the Georgian government to the statement
by Kallas and Kos was the EU should stop spreading lies.
And also they announced that there will be a special statement about the EU tomorrow,
so clearly, it may be suggested that the calls for dialogue are not working.
So my question is whether the EU is considering any concrete steps against the the Georgian Dream government and additionally,
with two upcoming meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and General Affairs Council,
is there any chance that Georgia will be discussed there? Thank you.
Thank You, let me put the things in context.
The context is that we have seen the elections that took place on Saturday,
which were marked by an extensive crackdown on media,
on civil society, on opposition parties.
We have also seen a low turnout, and this was also marked by a boycott of the opposition.
We have also seen that the Georgian authorities have failed to invite in due time, international observers from OSCE and ODIHR,
and this undermined the whole transparency and the credibility of this democratic process as such.
We have also seen that That
the Georgian authorities are conducting Russian propaganda.
It's a textbook propaganda when it comes to disinformation,
when it comes to the attacks on our ambassador that has our full support. Also, that being said, we condemn.
Any form of violence from all sides.
The EU has been always calling for peaceful protests, for peaceful demonstrations throughout as a right,
as a general right as such, but we condemn any form of violence.
So this is our statement in this regard.
Thank you, other questions on Georgia specifically. Go ahead. Yesterday we heard from Maciej Berestecki.
He stated that Georgia can become an EU member in
2030 if the EU will be in line with the processes.
I can't understand what he means, but it's very interesting and very important.
It is important to clarify if Georgia can be a member of the European Union in this policy of the Georgian dream regarding their people,
to the media, to NGOs and the opposition, and also regarding the EU.
Thank you, right now we're again in a context where due to the massive democratic backsliding that we have seen in Georgia,
we have reduced all the political contexts, we have downgraded it to the minimum,
so all our support goes to independent media, to civil society.
So when it comes to the accession process as such,
if you want to go more into detail, Guillaume can provide you with more.
Information, but the EU leaders have been clear and also the FAC.
This has been throughout discussed that accession is a merit-based process and for
now all we have seen is how the Georgian authorities are jeopardizing this path. Anitta, other questions on Georgia.
One hand from remote, Fatima, over to you. One hand raised from remote. Hi, my question is on energy.
OK, then, no, please unraise your hand. Thank you.
We foreign affairs chapter, so, we will continue taking foreign affairs questions, if any. Go, yes, go ahead.