On 3 March 2022, Georgia applied for EU membership. Based on the Commission’s Opinion, Georgia was granted a European perspective on 23 June 2022, by unanimous agreement of all 27 EU Member States.
On 14 December 2023, the European Council granted Georgia candidate status, on the understanding that the relevant reforms associated to the nine steps of the Commission’s recommendations of 8 November 2023 were implemented.
On 27 June 2024, the European Council expressed serious concerns about the Georgian government’s actions, including backsliding on the nine steps outlined in the Commission’s recommendations. It concluded that this was de facto halting Georgia’s EU accession process.
On 17 October 2024, the European Council reiterated that the Georgian government’s actions jeopardised Georgia’s European path and halted the accession process. It urged Georgia to pursue democratic, comprehensive and sustainable reforms, in line with the core principles of European integration.
On 30 October 2024, the European Commission published its 2024 Enlargement Package, including the Communication on EU Enlargement Policy and the Report on Georgia. The Commission noted that, since the granting of candidate status in December 2023, the Georgian authorities had shown insufficient political commitment to implementing the reforms necessary for progress on the European path. The report found that insignificant progress had been made on the nine steps. The Commission concluded that, unless Georgia reverses its current course, addresses outstanding concerns, and demonstrates tangible reform efforts, it cannot recommend opening accession negotiations.
In December 2024, the European Council regretted the Georgian government’s decision to suspend the EU accession process until 2028 and recalled its June and October 2024 conclusions. It underlined the EU’s readiness to support the Georgian people’s European aspirations and the country’s path towards accession, should the authorities reverse their current course of action.