The warning comes as the European Commission's annual enlargement report is published, which highlights unprecedented failures among EU candidate countries.
According to Kaia Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Georgia is the only candidate country that is experiencing significant regression on its path to EU membership. — At this stage, Georgia has no real path to the EU unless conditions change dramatically. It is now a candidate country in name only, Kallas said.
Marta Kos, the EU's enlargement commissioner, echoed these concerns, saying that “the situation in Georgia has rapidly deteriorated and democracy has seriously regressed.”
Georgian citizens demand a European future and they have our support. For the Commission, Georgia's candidate status exists only on paper.
The Commission's report of November 4 noted that progress is positive for Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine, mixed in the case of Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey, and negative in the case of Georgia, which is currently only a “nominal” candidate.
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The report explains that Georgia's progress has deteriorated significantly since December 2024.when the European Council expressed regret over Tbilisi's decision to suspend the accession process until 2028.
“The report's results are unfortunately devastating for Georgia's European aspirations.”
Restrictive laws targeting activists, civil society, independent media and LGBTQI people have undermined the country's democratic foundationswe read further in the report.
The document criticizes systemic repression, including legislation limiting civic space and fundamental rights, attacks on independent media, excessive use of force by law enforcement and hostile rhetoric towards the EU. Institutions whose task is to safeguard the rule of law, were instrumentalized for party purposeswhich further weakens their integrity.
The report also highlighted the shortcomings of the last elections, noting that the October 2024 parliamentary elections and October 2025 local elections were characterized by high polarization, intimidation, coercion and pressure on voters, undermining free choice. According to the report's findings, judicial reforms have weakened independence and integrity, increasing the risk of judicial capture.
Leader of the Georgian Dream Bidzina IvanishviliDavid Mdzinarishvili / PAP
“The authorities have not taken any steps to reverse the course of action and return the country to the EU path,” the report stressed, noting that the imprisonment of opposition leaders and the ruling Georgian Dream party's announcements to ban the activities of opposition parties and persons associated with them constitute “a direct attack on democratic pluralism.”
Regarding foreign and security policy, the Commission indicates that Georgia's alignment with EU standards remains low. Concerns remain regarding the re-export of high-priority and economically critical goods and the significant increase in the number of flights to Russia. The EU calls on Tbilisi to strengthen cooperation to prevent its territory or entities registered in Georgia from being used to circumvent EU sanctions.
The European Commission emphasizes that without significant reforms, Georgia's path to EU accession remains blockedand her candidate status is largely symbolic, underscoring the urgent need to restore democracy and align with EU values.
— The report's results are unfortunately devastating for Georgia's European aspirations, Paweł Herczyński, the EU ambassador to Georgia, told journalists in Tbilisi on Tuesday. — Georgia is not on a trajectory to become an EU member state, neither in 2030 nor later.
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