Georgia's foreign agent law: EU to respond in June

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said the EU Foreign Affairs Council had “exchanged views” on the  Georgian foreign agent law.

According to Borrell, some member states considered the law as “not so important”, while others thought it contradicted the norms and values of the EU.

He said the EU member states had started the discussions on the most appropriate response to its adoption from the bloc, in time for the next foreign ministerial meeting in June in case of its implementation.

The official added the EU had called on the Georgian authorities to repeal the law, considering the opinion published last week by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe in its assessment of the legislative piece.

Borrell noted the Council had also discussed the upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia, scheduled for October 26, adding the Georgian Government's actions could “affect the benefits” the country’s citizens would receive as a result of the country’s EU integration.