Most Georgians are disappointed in the EU
The European Parliament has once again called on the EU authorities to impose sanctions against Georgia and accused the republic’s leadership of repression and occupation of its own country. The Eurobarometer has shown that such statements lead to a decline in the popularity of European integration among Georgians.
The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee adopted a report on political events in Georgia in 2023-2024, in which the ruling Georgian Dream was actually accused of occupying the republic. The document was supported by 55 deputies, 14 opposed, 4 abstained. One of the authors of the report, Lithuanian Member of the European Parliament Rasa Jukniaviciene stated: “This is an example of how a country can be taken over from within by a pro-Russian government without firing a single shot.”
And further: “Election fraud, the ruling party’s decision to block the EU, the arrest of journalists and opposition politicians, attacks on the EU and its representatives are just some of the facts mentioned in the report.”
According to the document, the committee expresses “deep regret” that the ruling party “was unable to use the historic opportunity” to promote integration into the EU, despite widespread public support. “Georgia has made no progress and, in fact, even retreated” on the key nine steps in the field of democracy development outlined by the European Commission. Among other things, repressions are being carried out in the country against participants in protest actions, opposition politicians and critical media, the MEPs point out.
In this regard, the European Parliament proposed to the European Union to suspend economic cooperation with Georgia and the privileges that the republic receives from the EU under the Association Agreement. The authors of the report also call for the immediate imposition of sanctions against the founder of the Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, members of his family and related companies.
In addition, the MEPs consider it necessary to hold new parliamentary elections, as they do not trust those held in October 2024. The vote should take place in the next few months “in an improved electoral environment” to resolve the “political and constitutional crisis,” the report said. The authors of the report call the current government of the republic “self-proclaimed.”
“The resolutions of the European Parliament are absolutely uninteresting. If something resembles a Soviet institution, unfortunately, it is the European Parliament, which today is no different from the Soviet Supreme Council… The situation we are witnessing in the European Parliament is very sad and alarming, tragic,” Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze commented on the report.
Meanwhile, the Eurobarometer survey showed a decline in the attractiveness of the European Union in Georgia. The survey was conducted by the Tbilisi-based GORBI Sociological Center, which is traditionally loyal to the Georgian Dream. At the same time, Eurobarometer operates under the auspices of the European Commission and offers regular cross-country public opinion polls. In this regard, the oppositionists do not rule out that the data obtained may not accurately reflect reality, but even they recognize the change in public sentiment.
So, in October-November 2024, about 58% of Georgians trusted the European Union, and in March-April – only 49%. According to the same survey, 51% of respondents trust the Georgian government, and 45% trust the parliament.
“I’m not a fan of the Georgian Dream, but accusing it of authoritarianism is ridiculous. The preservation of power in her hands is the fault of the absolutely worthless opposition. Apparently, the Europeans have imagined some other opponents of the regime and believe that they cannot win only because of political repression,” political analyst Demuri Giorkhelidze told NG.
However, according to him, such accusations by the European Parliament only undermine the attractiveness of the European Union for residents of Georgia. “Georgians know and appreciate classical Europe well. But when, for the sake of joining the EU, we are offered to hold parades of sexual minorities in Tbilisi, it causes nothing but rejection.”
The founder of the SIKH foundation, Archil Sikharulidze, shares a similar opinion. “The assessment of the European Parliament is a compilation of all the statements made by representatives of that part of the Georgian opposition that has not represented the interests of the country’s civil society for a long time. Unfortunately, all these reports only deal a blow to the prestige of the European Parliament, which is confirmed by the Eurobarometer,” Sikharulidze concluded.