Due to the growing authoritarian policies of the "Georgian Dream," we must now discuss the official suspension of Georgia's EU membership process — "Georgian Dream" has increasingly distanced the country from the European Union in recent weeks and months, thereby creating a massive threat to the decades-long partnership between Georgia and Germany. This was stated by Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, evaluating the relationship between Georgia and the EU.

According to her, the process of canceling the visa-free regime for Georgian officials and sanctioning specific individuals is under consideration.

Germany’s Foreign Minister holds the "Georgian Dream" entirely responsible for the decline in relations between Georgia and the EU, and states that the ruling party must now do everything possible to pull the country out of the political crisis.

"Grandmothers who endure the cold and are not afraid of batons. Wet young people who face water cannons with nothing but European flags. Opposition leaders who were detained and brutally beaten. For weeks, thousands of brave Georgians have been holding demonstrations in small villages and large cities for their country’s European future. The majority of the population in Georgia wants their country to continue its European path. They carry Europe in their hearts, and pro-European protest is their voice. The responsible officials of the ruling party, 'Georgian Dream,' respond with intimidation, violence, and water cannons.

By turning away from the European path, 'Georgian Dream' has deliberately frozen and effectively halted Georgia’s EU accession process. Due to the growing authoritarian policies of 'Georgian Dream,' we must now discuss the official suspension of Georgia's accession process to the EU. The granting of EU candidate status to Georgia in December 2023 was linked to clear promises of reforms. This has always been clear to the responsible officials of 'Georgian Dream.' But instead of progress, we see alarming backslides: elections sharply criticized by international observers, disproportionate use of force against demonstrators, the so-called 'transparency law,' and restrictions on the rights of LGBTQI people. 'Georgian Dream' is losing the historical opportunity the EU offers to the country.

In recent weeks and months, 'Georgian Dream' has pushed the country further away from the EU, thus posing a massive threat to the decades-long partnership between Georgia and Germany. As a result, we have reduced cooperation with the country’s authorities and suspended projects worth more than 200 million euros in support. Meanwhile, we are discussing further measures with our EU partners, which include the cancellation of the visa-free regime for Georgian officials and specific sanctions. The ball is now in the court of the responsible officials of 'Georgian Dream.' It is up to them to do everything possible to end this deep political crisis, restore trust, and offer the Georgian people real prospects for returning to the path of EU accession, but first and foremost for the good future of all Georgians," said Annalena Baerbock.

This information was released by the German Embassy in Georgia.