EU foreign ministers will hold a detailed discussion in January on possible new measures against Georgia, as the bloc seeks to counter Tbilisi's accelerating democratic backsliding. The announcement came from the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, during a press conference on Wednesday presenting the European Commission's annual enlargement reports.
The Commission's report on Georgia paints a bleak picture: further restrictions on civic space, a deterioration of fundamental rights, and a government that appears increasingly at odds with the values that underpin EU membership. Kallas did not mince words, stating that the Georgian government is "on a collision course with the European Union regarding the democratic backsliding." She added, "The steps that have been taken are not going in the right direction now."
Asked by Euronews whether she would propose new sanctions on the Georgian government, Kallas said it was too early to tell. The January meeting is intended to reconcile differing views among the 27 member states, which have been divided on how to respond to Tbilisi's drift. "For us it is most important how we make the response so that we clearly indicate that we are supporting the Georgian people and their aspirations of being part of the European Union, but at the same time giving clear messages to the government that we are not supporting these kinds of policies," she explained.
The EU has already taken some steps. In 2024, the bloc's diplomatic service proposed sanctioning officials responsible for violently repressing peaceful protests, but Hungary and Slovakia blocked those measures. Since then, Viktor Orbán has been ousted from power in Budapest, and the new Hungarian government has significantly shifted its position on sanctions against Russia, potentially clearing the way for a more unified EU stance. However, sanctions require unanimity, which remains a hurdle.
Brussels did manage to suspend visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic passports, a measure that required only a qualified majority. That restriction took effect in March 2026 for one year and can be extended by up to two more years, but the Commission would need to adopt a secondary legal act by 6 January 2027 at the latest.
The political context is tense. In November 2024, Tbilisi unilaterally announced it would not seek to open accession negotiations before the end of 2028, after a Commission report found serious democratic backsliding, from the judiciary to media freedom. The Georgian government has offered no plan to defrost relations with Brussels, and its prime minister has stuck to a hard line, as recent reports have noted.
What options are on the table?
Kallas said that "at the moment, everything is on the table," but she did not specify which measures are being considered. Possible options include targeted sanctions against officials, suspension of EU funds, or further restrictions on visa liberalisation. The EU is also likely to consider how to maintain support for Georgian civil society and pro-European voices, even as the government cracks down on dissent.
The broader context is the EU's enlargement policy, which has become increasingly linked to strategic alignment. As our analysis has shown, the bloc is squeezing candidate countries like Serbia, Georgia, and Turkey to align more closely with EU foreign policy and democratic norms. Georgia's trajectory is a test case for whether the EU can enforce its values without alienating the Georgian people.
For now, the EU is walking a tightrope: it wants to signal to the Georgian government that its current course is unacceptable, while reassuring ordinary Georgians that the door to membership remains open. The January meeting will be a crucial moment to define that balance. As Kallas put it, the response must be crafted so that it "clearly indicates that we are supporting the Georgian people and their aspirations of being part of the European Union."
