Georgia 2026 EU enlargement report details democratic backsliding

The European Commission has issued its 2026 Georgia Report as part of the EU enlargement package, concluding that Georgia’s accession process remains halted and that further democratic backsliding occurred.

• The report says Georgia’s authorities failed to address the nine steps required for candidate status, and it does not set recommendations beyond the fundamentals because the accession process remains halted.
• It details deterioration in democracy, rule of law, fundamental rights, media freedom, and judicial independence; it also notes economic growth of 7.5% in 2025, a 38% alignment rate on foreign, security and defence policy, and a USD 500 million Eurobond issued in January 2026.
• The EU has withheld EUR 121.3 million in bilateral funds since 2024, and the Commission activated the revised Visa Suspension Mechanism on 6 March 2026 for Georgian diplomatic, service and official passport holders.