3.7 million) is falling behind other EU candidates such as Ukraine and Moldova in the race to open accession talks, and fears are growing in Brussels that Georgian Dream isn’t just dragging its feet on key reforms but is looking to actively derail the entire process.
The government’s opponents contend that EU membership is bad news for Georgian Dream, which they argue doesn’t want to upset relations with Moscow by taking a westward political trajectory.
Last March, the populist Georgian Dream administration was forced to drop an almost identical “foreign agent” bill after street protests that saw riot police clash with crowds, drawing condemnation from abroad.
Having warned last year that the Georgia government’s proposals were “incompatible with EU values and standards,” officials now have every reason to see the “foreign agents” bill as a deliberate attempt to drive a wedge in relations.
If the bill is passed, Zakashvili’s outlet, which is almost entirely sustained by foreign donor funding, would not just be branded as an agent — the government would also be able to carry out impromptu checks and access reporters’ personal data.
As he sees it, the government is unwilling to act on key EU demands regarding the accession process, such as judicial reform and curbing the influence of their wealthy backers, because it could weaken their hold on power.
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