Paweł Herczyński: Georgia voluntarily expressed its desire to join the European Union, and it is up to Georgia to demonstrate that it meets the membership criteria - decisions matter, and decisions have consequences
Attempts to ban major opposition parties through the Constitutional Court threaten the foundations of Georgia’s democracy. Georgia voluntarily expressed its desire to join the European Union, and it is Georgia that must show us that it meets the membership criteria, - Paweł Herczyński, the EU Ambassador to Georgia, stated following the publication of the 2026 EU Enlargement Report.
According to him, the path to the European Union remains open to Georgia, provided that the Georgian authorities change course and return to upholding democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights.
"As the EU High Representative has stated, the Georgian authorities are on a collision course with the European Union. At the same time, the EU’s long-standing support for Georgia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity remains firm. Furthermore, our support for the European choice of the Georgian population—the Georgian people—remains unwavering. Should the Georgian authorities decide to change course and once again uphold the fundamental values that underpin EU accession—namely democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental human rights—Georgia’s European path could be restored. Georgia voluntarily expressed its desire to join the European Union, and it is up to Georgia to demonstrate that it meets the criteria for membership. A series of enlargement reports have outlined to the Georgian authorities the steps required to satisfy these criteria. Today, Georgia’s EU accession process is, de facto, at a standstill. Over the past year, the situation in Georgia has deteriorated further. There has been a very serious backsliding in terms of democracy, there is a rapid erosion regarding the rule of law, as well as a restriction of fundamental rights. All of this is the result of political decisions made in Georgia. Decisions matter; decisions have consequences. The European path remains open to Georgia, provided that the Georgian authorities decide to change course and recommit themselves to democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights. Our support for the European aspirations of the Georgian people remains unchanged," stated Herczyński.
