Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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93. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the illiberal drift of the government of Georgia in recent months; and the steps, if any, Ireland proposes to take to support the wishes of the people of Georgia in their quest to aspire to, and ultimately become members of, the European Union. [26979/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland and its European Union partners have repeatedly communicated to the Georgian government in recent months concerns around democratic backsliding in the country. In particular, the High Representative and EU Members States have been clear that the “on transparency of foreign influence” law recently enacted by the Government - despite widespread international criticism and months long protests by large numbers of Georgians - is not in line with core EU values and norms, and threatens Georgia’s path towards EU membership.EU enlargement is a merit-based process, and advancing on the path to European Union integration must go hand-in-hand with progress on EU-related reforms.

The so-called "foreign agents law" is a clear attempt by the Georgian government to limit Georgia’s vibrant civil society and criticism towards the government. The European Commission and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe have assessed that the law is not in line with EU values. In addition to calling for the law to be revoked, Ireland and the EU have also condemned the disproportionate response by the Georgian authorities to peaceful protesters, as an infringement on the right to freedom of assembly and expression. An independent investigation into the police response towards protesters should be conducted, and we are especially concerned by the reports of the violent assaults on opposition politicians and activists. We are also concerned by the recent legislation passed by the government which facilitates the transfer of offshore assets to Georgia, as well as the amendments to Georgia’s electoral code in advance of October’s parliamentary elections. The anti-LGBTQ+ package of legislation introduced by the Georgian government is the latest demonstration of democratic backsliding. We also regret the cancelling of Tbilisi Pride this year, for the second year in a row, due to security-related concerns.Ireland is currently engaging with our EU partners on a coordinated response to the Georgian government’s democratic backsliding. The situation, and the EU’s response, will be discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council on 24 June, and the European Council 27 – 28 June. Ireland will continue to emphasise in our engagements with Georgia that the European Union is a union based on values, and urge Georgia to return to the path of European integration.