European Parliament member Markéta Gregorová spoke candidly about the state of Georgia’s EU integration process, warning that the country’s European future is under severe threat, in an interview conducted for Kyiv Post.
According to Gregorová, the European Commission’s assessment that Georgia’s accession process is “effectively at a standstill” reflects a deeper political reality.
“Legally, I don’t think Georgia will lose candidacy at this stage; it’s unlikely in the short term unless there is more extreme deterioration. Turkey’s candidacy status has been frozen for many years without being lost,” she said.
“So, for Georgia, I think it’s more likely the status will be frozen rather than lost. Politically, it feels like it has already been frozen - the EU does not consider Georgia to have realistic candidacy status. When the Commission talks about enlargement, they do not mention Georgia.”
Gregorová highlighted that the Georgian government has significantly deteriorated relations with the EU, prompting the suspension of certain cooperation tools, cuts in bilateral assistance, and a downgrading of diplomatic and political contacts.
“The relationship is actually worse than before Georgia received its candidacy status... Continued deterioration will make de facto political exclusion highly likely,” she said.
Red lines and democratic backsliding
The MEP identified the EU’s “red line” as the systematic dismantling of the rule of law, judicial independence, political pluralism, opposition parties, and independent spaces for media and civil society. Formal alignment with Russia on foreign and security policy would also constitute a critical threshold.
“Once political pluralism is dismantled and democratic remedies are removed, it will be time for the EU to formally freeze the relationship,” she noted.
Gregorová confirmed that EU institutions have discussed targeted sanctions against Georgian officials responsible for democratic backsliding. “There is political appetite for such measures, but countries like Hungary and Slovakia have blocked action at the European Council level. Decisions require unanimity, which complicates the process,” she said.
According to Gregorová, the Georgian government must take urgent measures: release political prisoners, end politically motivated prosecutions, restore judicial independence, protect civil society and NGOs, repeal the foreign agent law, and broadly restore the rule of law.
A message to Georgian citizens
Gregorová stressed that the EU should redirect support directly to citizens through civil society organizations, independent media, NGOs, and programs like Erasmus, even bypassing the central government if necessary.
The MEP also expressed concern about Georgia’s recent elections, citing deep polarization and democratic decline. She recommended enhanced EU monitoring for future elections, noting that she personally witnessed irregularities during the 2024 European Parliament election observation mission.
“At this moment, political pressure from the EU does not work, so the only thing the EU can do is continue to support civil society, independent space, and media. But in the end, this is something for the citizens to change in elections,” Gregorová said.
Addressing the Georgian government’s talk of an “independent European path,” Gregorová said it appears to be both a tactical maneuver and a longer-term strategic drift toward Moscow.
“If you sideline and attack EU norms, re-orient security ties, and don’t follow sanctions on Russia, attack NGOs and civil society, ease up the financial system in Georgia so it can become a laundering state for Russia’s oligarchs, you renew direct Moscow flights after years, you absolutely indicate a strategic long-term drift to Moscow, creating a big space for Russian influence,” she warned.
Gregorová described the threat from Russia as severe and ongoing. “Russia has aimed to regain and expand its influence, and they are succeeding in Georgia and in Europe as well. It goes hand in hand with deteriorating weak institutions and minimisation of the independent media space. The Czech Republic also does not have a healthy political climate and it is a victim of Russia’s disinformation and propaganda,” she said.
Gregorová concluded with a direct message for the Georgian people, particularly the young: “Keep fighting and protesting for what you believe is essential to your future. Stay hopeful and vocal as your leader drifts in the opposite direction, keep showing them that Georgia belongs in Europe. The path is hard, and it will be harder. And I remain hopeful that the next parliamentary elections will change Georgia’s course on the European path again.”