Georgia
Georgia applied for EU membership in March 2022 and was granted candidate status in December 2023. The accession process came to a de facto halt in 2024. The EU and Georgia also cooperate in the context of the Eastern Partnership.
Enlargement
EU membership application
On 3 March 2022 Georgia applied for EU membership.
On 17 June 2022 the European Commission issued its opinion on Georgia's application for EU membership.
On 23 June 2022 the European Council discussed Georgia's EU membership application. The European Council stated that it was ready to grant Georgia the status of candidate country once the priorities specified in the Commission’s opinion on Georgia’s membership application had been addressed.
On 8 November 2023, the Commission recommended that Georgia be granted candidate status, on the understanding that a number of steps would be taken.
The European Council granted Georgia candidate status on 14-15 December 2023, on the understanding that the relevant steps set out in the Commission recommendation of 8 November 2023 were taken.
- Georgia report (European Commission, 8 November 2023)
- European Council conclusions, 14 and 15 December 2023
Given Georgia’s government’s course of action, which runs counter to the EU’s founding values and principles, Georgia’s accession process came to a de facto halt in 2024. Throughout 2024, EU leaders discussed the situation in Georgia at multiple occasions, notably at the European Council meetings in June, October and December. To this end, EU leaders have expressed serious concern regarding the developments in Georgia, strongly condemned the violence against peaceful protesters, politicians and media representatives, and expressed regret over the Georgian government’s decision to suspend the country’s EU accession process until 2028.
The EU is ready to support the Georgian people’s European aspirations and the country’s path towards accession, should the Georgian authorities decide to reverse their present course of action.
Annual progress review
Every year, the Council takes stock of progress made in each of the EU candidates and partners, including Georgia, on their European path.
On 16 December 2025, the Danish Council presidency issued conclusions that were politically supported by 26 of the EU member states.
Democratic backsliding and repression
In May 2024, the Georgian authorities adopted a law on the transparency of foreign influence, which represents a backward step from the Commission’s recommendation for Georgia’s candidate status and resulted in the country’s accession process being halted. At the subsequent European Council meetings in June, October and December 2024, EU leaders called on the Georgian authorities to:
- clarify their intentions by reversing the current course of action
- adopt democratic, comprehensive and sustainable reforms
- refrain from using force and end the violence against peaceful protesters, politicians and media representatives
- respect the right to freedom of assembly and expression
In the run-up to the parliamentary elections of 26 October 2024, EU leaders also called on the authorities to ensure that the elections were free and fair in line with international standards, and encouraged substantial short-term and long-term election monitoring by partners.
Eastern partnership
In addition to the enlargement process, the EU and Georgia also cooperate to strengthen political and economic relations under the European Neighbourhood Policy and its eastern regional dimension, the Eastern Partnership.
Association Agreement
The EU and Georgia signed an Association Agreement on 27 June 2014 and this has been in force since 1 July 2016.
The agreement introduced a preferential trade regime – the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area - which:
- establishes closer economic links between Georgia and the EU based on reforms in trade-related areas
- removes all import duties on goods and provides for broad mutual access to trade in services
- is a vehicle for further aligning Georgian trade-related legislation with selected aspects of the EU’s legal framework
Association Council
The Association Council is the highest formal institution established under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, and supervises implementation of the agreement.
The eighth meeting of the EU-Georgia Association Council, which took place on 20 February 2024, focused on Georgia’s EU accession path, political dialogue and reform, economic and sectoral cooperation, trade and trade-related matters and peaceful conflict resolution.
Visa liberalisation
Visa facilitation and readmission agreements with Georgia entered into force in 2011.
On 27 February 2017, the Council adopted a regulation on visa liberalisation for Georgians travelling to the EU for a stay of 90 days in any 180-day period.
Ireland is exempted from the application of these provisions, in accordance with the protocols annexed to the EU treaties. The regulation entered into force on 28 March 2017.
On 27 January 2025, the Council decided to suspend parts of the EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement. This may lead to Georgian diplomats and officials having to apply for visa when travelling to the EU. Georgian citizens are exempted from the visa requirement.
Territorial integrity and conflict resolution
The EU firmly supports Georgia's territorial integrity and its conflict resolution in the occupied breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The EU is engaged through:
- the co-chairmanship of the Geneva international discussions by the EU special representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia
- the deployment of the EU monitoring mission in Georgia (EUMM)
Financial assistance to Georgia
The EU is the largest provider of financial assistance to Georgia, as well as its biggest trade partner. The EU supports socioeconomic development and reforms in Georgia through the Neighbourhood Development and Cooperation Instrument (NDICI).
EU support to Georgia aims to improve the quality of life of Georgian citizens through an annual grant assistance of approximately €85 million, fostering tangible and visible results.
EU assistance is based on strict conditionality, and is linked to satisfactory progress on reforms and respect for the rule of law, effective democratic mechanisms and human rights.
The EU also supports Georgia with concrete investments through the Economic and Investment Plan (EIP), in line with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy. Under the EIP, the EU has leveraged €2.1 billion in public and private investments, including for six flagship initiatives, which are:
- Black Sea connectivity
- transport across the Black Sea
- economic recovery
- digital connectivity for citizens
- improved air quality
- energy efficiency in public buildings
Support for the Georgian defence forces
Between 2021 and 2023, the EU has allocated almost €63 million through the European Peace Facility to support the modernisation of Georgia’s defence forces.
The assistance measures in place strengthen the capabilities of the Georgian defence forces, including their ability to provide their services to civilians in crises or emergency situations.
In particular, they provide non-lethal equipment, supplies and services.
Related documents and publications
Last review: 16 December 2025