The European Union deplores the rushed adoption, in second reading, of the legislative package on “family values and protection of minors”, notes the statement by the Spokesperson of EU High Representative, Josep Borrell.

“This package undermines the fundamental rights of Georgian people and risks further stigmatisation and discrimination of part of the population.

The EU regrets that legislation with important repercussions on the EU integration path has been passed without due public consultations and a thorough analysis of its compliance with European and international standards.

Ensuring and upholding human rights is at the core of the enlargement process, annually assessed within the European Commission’s enlargement report.

The EU calls on the Georgian authorities to entirely reconsider this legislative package. Such a proposal, combined with the restrictions on civil society imposed by the Law on transparency of foreign influence, will place further strain on EU-Georgia relations.

The EU recalls that Georgia’s accession process is de facto halted and urges the authorities to recommit to the EU integration path,” the statement reads.