EU High Representative Josep Borrell and EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi issue a statement regarding the draft law on "transparency of foreign influence".

"Today, the Parliament of Georgia adopted the law "On transparency of foreign influence" in the first reading, despite numerous calls from the European Union to reject such legislation and despite mass protests.

This development of events is very worrying and the final adoption of this law will have a negative impact on Georgia's progress on the road to the European Union. This law is incompatible with the basic norms and values of the European Union.

Georgia has an active civil society that contributes to the country's successful progress towards EU membership. The proposed legislation may limit the freedom of civil society and media organizations to work freely, as well as freedom of expression and unfairly stigmatize organizations that benefit Georgian citizens.

"The European Union calls on Georgia to refrain from adopting such legislation that might compromise Georgia's path to the European Union - a path supported by the vast majority of Georgian citizens," the joint statement said.