**EU Parliament Committee Passes Report on Georgia with Amendments**
The European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has made a significant move in its stance towards the Georgian government. The committee has passed a draft report on Georgia, highlighting the country’s democratic backsliding and lack of progress in European integration.
According to the initial version of the draft report, presented by MEP Rasa Juknevičienė, the European Parliament expresses deep regret over the fact that the ruling Georgian Dream party failed to utilize the historic opportunity granted to Georgia as a candidate country. The document notes that European integration is supported by the majority of the population but has not progressed due to democratic backsliding.
**Key Demands and Concerns**
The final version of the report, which has been passed with amendments, includes several key demands and concerns:
* **Immediate audit of EU policy towards Georgia**: The report calls for an immediate comprehensive audit of the EU’s policy towards Georgia given the ongoing democratic backsliding in the country.
* **Sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili**: The document calls for immediate and targeted personal sanctions to be introduced against him, his family members, and his companies, as well as freezing his known assets in the EU.
* **Recognition of Salome Zourabichvili as legitimate President**: The report continues to recognize Salome Zourabichvili as the legitimate President of Georgia and representative of the Georgian people.
* **Support for civil society and independent media**: The document stresses the urgent need to support Georgia’s civil society and independent media in the light of growing repression.
**EU’s Response**
The European Parliament’s move comes amidst concerns over the Georgian government’s handling of democratic values, human rights, and its collaboration with Russia. While the EU has already suspended visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats and officials, the committee calls for further measures to be taken, including reviewing Georgia’s visa-free status.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, 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 self-appointed authorities of Georgia.
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