“One year ago, thousands of Georgians trooped to the streets to defend their democratic rights, their civic freedom and above all, a strong European aspiration. Their message and will to belong in Europe has been consistent and courageous, and despite political pressures, limitations, intimidation and attempts to narrow public space, many have shown remarkable resilience,” said Danish Minister for European Affairs, Marie Bjerre, in the European Parliament during the debates on Deepening Democratic Crisis in Georgia.

According to Marie Bjerre, the EU, including the European Parliament, has expressed several times its great concern about democratic backsliding in Georgia.

“Our concerns are deteriorating rule of law, politically motivated detentions, pressure on independent media, and the conduct of the 2025 municipal elections. We are also concerned about the deliberate disinformation and anti-EU narratives spread by the Georgian authorities,” she said.

Danish Minister for European Affairs believes that this year also saw Georgia “drifting away” from regional collaboration between parliaments, “at a time when dialogue is most needed.”

“Georgia chose not to participate in the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Yerevan. Discussions in the Council confirm that actions taken by the Georgian authorities fall short of the EU’s expectations of a candidate country. Regrettably, Georgia has been clearly experiencing backsliding from the nine steps, for which implementation the candidate status was granted. As a result, Georgia’s EU accession process has effectively come to a standstill and this will be the case until the Georgian authorities demonstrate their firm commitment to reverse the course and return to the EU accession path. This requires freeing all arbitrarily detained politicians, journalists and activists, repealing repressive legislation, adopting democratic, comprehensive and sustainable reforms in line with the core principles of European integration and stopping their aggressive narrative against the EU.

But let me underline that Georgia’s European path remains open. We are not passing a verdict. We are offering a roadmap for the European future that corresponds to the wish of the majority of Georgians. As we reflect on one one-year anniversary of protest, let us pay tribute to thousands of Georgians, students, journalists, activists and ordinary citizens, who peacefully stood for democracy. They were met with violence, intimidation and unjust detentions, but they persisted; their courage is a reminder that European values are alive in Georgia,” she concluded.