It is up to Georgia to move forward towards the European Union - and to achieve this goal, it is necessary to share European values, as well as to protect democracy, freedom of speech and the press, - German State Minister for European Affairs Günther Krichbaum said in response to a question from Euroscope before the General Affairs Council meeting.

According to Günther Krichbaum, Georgia was "far ahead" on its path to joining the EU, and this setback is very regrettable.

"This is especially sad for young people who are eagerly awaiting EU membership. But, as European Commissioner Marta Kos noted in her latest report, Georgia is a candidate country only on paper, and that is sad. It is up to Georgia to move forward on this path towards the EU. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to share European values, as well as to protect democracy, freedom of speech and the press. Unfortunately, this is no longer being ensured in Georgia," said the German Minister of State for European Affairs.