**Georgia Excluded from Informal EU Meeting in Copenhagen**
The Georgian government’s decision to suspend its European Union (EU) integration process has led to the country being excluded from an informal EU meeting in Copenhagen. The Danish Foreign Ministry confirmed this, citing Tbilisi’s November decision to put its EU integration on hold until 2028.
**What is happening?**
Unlike other EU candidate countries, representatives of the Georgian government were not invited to the informal EU meeting held in Copenhagen on September 1-2. This exclusion comes amid concerns over Georgia’s democratic backsliding and recent legislative actions that undermine core European values.
**Why was Georgia excluded?**
The Danish Foreign Ministry stated that Georgia’s exclusion is due to its decision to suspend the country’s EU integration process until 2028. The ministry also mentioned that this decision follows a precedent set by the Polish Presidency, where Georgia was not invited in the capacity of a candidate country.
**Georgia’s response**
Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili dismissed the Danish Ministry’s comments as disinformation and claimed that the government has always maintained its commitment to European integration. However, Kornely Kakachia, an expert on European integration, stated that Georgia is now effectively in a state of isolation.
**What does this mean for Georgia?**
Georgia’s exclusion from the informal EU meeting is seen as a significant blow to the country’s prospects for European integration. The EU has given Georgia until August 31 to report on its progress in implementing key recommendations related to democratic reforms and human rights. Failure to do so could result in the suspension of the visa-free travel regime enjoyed by Georgian citizens since 2017.
**What are the implications?**
The exclusion of Georgia from the informal EU meeting is a clear indication that the country’s prospects for European integration are uncertain. The EU has expressed concerns over Georgia’s democratic backsliding and recent legislative actions, which have led to the country’s isolation.
**Stay updated on this story**
To stay informed about the latest developments in this story, you can visit the Civil.ge website, where this article was originally published.
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Note: This article is based on the original text from civil.ge and has been edited for clarity and style.
