Estonian FM: No progress for Georgia towards EU membership unless gov't changes behavior
Estonian FM: No progress for Georgia towards EU membership unless gov't changes behavior

“The first very important message is that there won’t be any step further for Georgia towards the European Union if this government does not change this behaviour,” Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, stated ahead of the EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Luxembourg.

“Today is a sad day because we are discussing hesitation in Georgia because of the Georgian government. They are moving not towards the European Union, but the other way around. But tomorrow is a great day because we are going to start the official negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, and also the Western Balkans are moving ahead. So Ukraine has been like the engine of the enlarging process and Estonia is really supporting the enlargement naturally. Because without the natural processes, we will have grey areas still in Europe, which are not secured. And, also we need more people and more countries to join the European Union to have stability as well.

The first very important message is that there won’t be any step further for Georgia towards the European Union if this government does not change this behaviour. This government is not taking back the Foreign Agents Law. So this is clear, but there is a list of different measures that the Commission has prepared. There will be as well a discussion about the support of different funds to Georgia. There will be a discussion about the Schengen visa bans for high-level officials. Many other aspects. So the situation for Georgia is serious and all these responsibilities lie on the shoulders of the Georgian government because the Georgian people are supporting the way to the European Union. We were there together with the Baltic, and also the Iceland Foreign Ministers more than a month ago. So, we see what is going to happen. I’m really sad about that. But we need to take measures. We need to be clear about this,” Margus Tsahkna stated.

Today, a ministerial meeting of foreign affairs will be held in Luxembourg, chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. The agenda will include a discussion on Georgia among other important issues.