Borrell warns Georgia door to EU membership could close

YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell told Georgia that its push to join the bloc could be ended, as Brussels weighs options to punish the authorities over a "foreign influence" law, Barron’s reports.

"The door for Georgia to become a member of the European Union is open," Borrell said at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

"But if the government continues on the same track, continues doing what they are doing, this door will be closed, and the Georgian people will pay the consequences, will suffer."

The ruling party in Georgia, which formally became a candidate to join the EU last year, adopted a controversial "foreign influence" law this month. The bill requires NGOs and media outlets that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as bodies "pursuing the interests of a foreign power." The ruling Georgian Dream party insists it is committed to joining the EU and was acting to increase transparency on NGO funding.

The move was condemned by Georgia's Western supporters, with the United States banning several officials from the South Caucasus nation from visiting.

Borrell said that initial moves being discussed by ministers could include halting funding for Georgia's security forces, cutting government financing, or severing high-level contacts.

"We don't want to affect civilians. We don't want to put more pain on the civilian people," Borrell said, adding that no firm decision was expected Monday.