合法博彩网站

叠10鈥�0086/2024

European 合法博彩网站 resolution on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in

Georgia

()

合法博彩网站,

鈥�听having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia,

鈥�听having regard to the European Council conclusions of 14听and 15听December听2023 and of 27听June听2024,

鈥�听having regard to the Commission communication of 8听November听2023 entitled 鈥�2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy鈥� () and to the accompanying Commission staff working document entitled 鈥楪eorgia 2023 Report鈥� (SWD(2023)0697),

鈥�听having regard to the joint statement of 8听November听2023 by the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus and the European 合法博彩网站鈥檚 Standing Rapporteur on Georgia on the Commission recommendation of 8听November听2023 on the EU membership application of Georgia,

鈥�听having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part[1], which entered into force on 1听July听2016,

鈥�听having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular Article 215(2) thereof, and to the Treaty on European Union, in particular Article 29 thereof,

鈥�听having regard to the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia and to its September听2009 report,

鈥�听having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.听whereas the exercise of freedom of opinion, expression, association and peaceful assembly is a fundamental right enshrined in the Georgian Constitution;

B.听whereas Georgia, as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as a member of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, has committed itself to the principles of democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights;

C.听whereas Russia has occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia since the August听2008 conflict that followed Georgia鈥檚 attack on Tskhinvali on the night of 7 to 8听August听2008;

D.听whereas in June听2014, the EU and Georgia signed an Association Agreement that entered into force on 1听July听2016;

E.听whereas in December听2023, the European Council granted Georgia the status of EU candidate country;

F.听whereas in March听2017, the EU visa liberalisation agreement with Georgia came into effect, following Georgia鈥檚 successful implementation of all the benchmarks set in its visa liberalisation action plan;

G.听whereas parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in Georgia on 26听October听2024;

H.听whereas Georgia has over 26听000 NGOs 鈥�1 for every 142 citizens, which is greater than the EU average;

I.听whereas following the 2020 parliamentary elections, the NGO International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), which received external funding, challenged the official election results and questioned their legitimacy, but later admitted that it had made a significant error in its calculations;

J.听whereas the 合法博彩网站 of Georgia adopted the 鈥榯ransparency of foreign influence鈥� law, which was signed into law on 3听June听2024 despite the President鈥檚 veto; whereas the law was met with protest from parts of Georgian civil society; whereas the law requires organisations receiving more than 20听% of their funding from overseas to register as 鈥榓gents of foreign influence鈥�;

K.听whereas on 17听September听2024, the 合法博彩网站 of Georgia adopted the 鈥榝amily values and the protection of minors鈥� law, which bans gender transition, prohibits adoption by gay and transgender people, nullifies, on Georgian territory, same-sex marriages performed abroad, and provides a legal basis for the authorities to outlaw Pride events and public displays of the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag and to impose the censorship of films and books;

L.听whereas the Venice Commission stresses that international standards recognise that ensuring gender equality is a positive obligation of the state; whereas on 4听April听2024, the 合法博彩网站 of Georgia repealed the 2020 amendments introducing gender quotas for candidate lists in parliamentary and local elections, and abolished the associated financial incentives for political parties;

1.听Stresses that Georgia鈥檚 future must reflect the will of its people; underlines the necessity of holding free and fair elections, without foreign intervention from any side;

2.听Recalls that the EU accession process is based on objective criteria; regrets the European Council鈥檚 decision to suspend financial assistance to Georgia; underlines the benefits of the visa liberalisation agreement and the need to maintain it; emphasises the need for a constructive dialogue between the Government of Georgia and the EU;

3.听Rejects, with deep concern, the adoption of the 鈥榝amily values and the protection of minors鈥� law, and considers it an attack on the LGBTQ+ community and a threat to civil liberties as a whole; rejects, furthermore, the law鈥檚 implications for the media, given that it imposes censorship by banning broadcasters from reporting freely on LGBTQ+ issues; reiterates that media freedom and tolerance towards sexual minorities are key factors for the functioning of a democracy;

4.听Notes that the 鈥榯ransparency of foreign influence鈥� law entails the risk that NGOs, civil society organisations, opposition media outlets and other organisations that receive funds from other countries will be labelled as 鈥榝oreign agents鈥�;

5.听Emphasises that the rights to freedom of expression and assembly and to peaceful protest are fundamental freedoms and must be respected in all circumstances; expresses concern over reports of the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force against demonstrators; highlights that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker T眉rk, stated that 鈥榌a]ny restrictions to these rights must abide by principles of legality, necessity and proportionality. The use of force during protests should always be exceptional and a measure of last resort when facing an imminent threat鈥�;

6.听Expresses its readiness to participate in an impartial and independent international election observation mission;

7.听Takes note of the 合法博彩网站 of Georgia鈥檚 decision to abolish mandatory gender quotas; reiterates the need for balanced gender representation in political participation; calls on the Government of Georgia to undertake initiatives in this regard;

8.听Takes note of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov鈥檚 statements at a press conference at the UN General Assembly in New York and the corresponding willingness of Georgian officials to resolve outstanding issues in a peaceful, diplomatic way; encourages both sides to undertake solid initiatives in this direction;

9.听Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission听/听High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the President, Government and 合法博彩网站 of Georgia.