The European Parliament in its resolution on the accession progress of Georgia and Türkiye criticizes the both countries and sends a message: EU accession cannot move forward without democratic reforms.

MEPs - Rasa Juknevičienė [rapporteur on Georgia] and Sancho Nachez Amor [rapporteur on Turkey] warn of continued democratic backsliding in both countries and call for reforms and a stronger EU response.

"With serious continued democratic backsliding in Georgia, MEPs regret that the ruling Georgian Dream party has not taken any steps to reverse the negative trends. The report highlights that EU and member states` engagement with the Georgian authorities should be strictly conditional on their taking tangible and verifiable steps to reverse the course of democratic regression, restrictions and fierce Russian-style anti-EU-disinformation.

The resolution, adopted on Wednesday by 436 votes in favour and 145 against, with 47 abstentions, expresses full solidarity with the Georgian people, who continue their struggle for a European and democratic Georgia in the face of democratic backsliding. The report maintains, however, Parliament’s previous position regarding non-recognition of the legitimacy of Georgia’s parliament and the president appointed by it.

“The Georgian Dream regime continues to dismantle democratic institutions, silence independent media and hold one of the highest numbers of political prisoners in the region, including Sakharov prize laureate Mzia Amaglobeli. This is unacceptable for an EU candidate country. We must now move towards imposing coordinated EU-wide sanctions against those responsible for repression and state capture", - said the rapporteur Rasa Juknevičienė (EPP, Lithuania).