Germany and France are concerned about the situation in Georgia in connection with the adoption by the country's parliament of the law "On transparency of foreign influence". This was stated in a joint statement of the two countries, distributed by the press service of the German government.
„We, Germany and France, are deeply concerned about the situation in Georgia”, the text notes. At the same time, it is stated that Berlin and Paris “have been staunch supporters of Georgia's European path and actively supported the December 2023 decision of the European Council to grant Georgia candidate status”.
„We deeply regret the decision of the government and the ruling party of Georgia to deviate from this path, acting against our pan-European values and the aspirations of the Georgian people, including by adopting the so-called law “For transparency of foreign influence“, the statement emphasized. At the same time, the parties stated that “Georgia's European path is outlined, but the country decides at what speed and in what direction to move“.
On May 18, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili announced that she had vetoed the law on foreign agents, which the Georgian parliament passed in third reading in May 14 .
The adoption of this law caused sharp statements by the EU about threats to stop the country's integration into the European Union. Earlier, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the parliament could support the veto if the reasoned remarks presented by the president were acceptable. However, Zurabishvili noted that he will not make amendments, as the law cannot be “ennobled”.