EU think Georgia needs to do better...31 May 2022 20:20
"I am not revealing any secrets here, since you have all seen and heard the EU’s public reactions to a number of developments that have taken place over the past year: with questions over the trend in the conduct of democratic elections; the 5 July violence and its follow-up, with implications for the rights of minorities and protection of journalists; several actions taken that run counter to building trust in the judiciary and the rule of law; wiretapping practises vs. human rights, including the right to privacy; and the dismantlement of the State Inspector’s Service, putting into question the respect for democratic institutions and proper democratic oversight mechanisms.
And these are not, let’s face it, developments of marginal importance. They all relate directly to the key values of the European Union, as formulated in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union.
However you may wish to explain away some of these developments – as some do – there is no going around the fact that a change is needed. Perceptions matter, trends matter, and Georgia must aim to bring itself back to the position of the region’s best performer and reformer – for which it has every opportunity and even a track record to prove it."
https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/georgia/key-note-speech-ambassador-hartzell-conference-%E2%80%9Cnew-security-architecture_en?s=221