Twenty-six European Union member states are prepared to approve sanctions against Georgia, though one member state continues to block the move, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has announced.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Kallas noted that there is broad consensus within the bloc regarding the implementation of restrictive measures. "If you ask about the general mood, I can answer positively. For example, when we raised the issue of sanctions against those acting against the opposition or free media, 26 countries supported us and only one opposed it," she stated, without naming the dissenting country.
Relations between Tbilisi and the West have deteriorated significantly since the Georgian Parliament passed the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence in May 2024. While the ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia party maintains the law is necessary to ensure the transparency of financial flows for non-governmental organizations, the EU and the United States have criticized it as a departure from democratic norms. Following the October 26, 2024, elections—where the ruling party secured 53.93% of the vote—the Georgian government announced on November 28 that it would suspend EU membership negotiations until 2028 and decline all EU budget grants.
