“Georgia’s candidate status exists only on paper. We very much want to actively cooperate with the Georgian authorities again, but they must take reciprocal steps,” European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos told journalists in Luxembourg ahead of an EU foreign ministers’ meeting. She made the statement in response to a question regarding whether the European Union plans to engage with the Georgian government.
“As long as they do not move forward and, instead, show regression because of the laws they have passed, until there is progress and steps toward European values, we will not cooperate with them,” Kos emphasized.
At the same time, according to the European Commissioner, Brussels continues its cooperation with civil society and stands with the people of Georgia.
“However, we have an extremely important message for the people of Georgia: despite the absence of cooperation with the authorities, we engage with civil society and support the people. There are numerous areas where we provide assistance, and we will continue doing so in the future. It would be good if the candidate country status did not remain merely on paper, but moving forward requires readiness on both sides,” Marta Kos noted.
